'Urban Explorers’ warned of dangers

Hertfordshire County Council are warning children and their parents about the dangers of 'urban exploring' across the county, after seeing a rise in break-ins at their owned empty properties and footage appearing online.

Executive Member for Resources at Hertfordshire County Council Cllr Chris Lucas said:

"We've seen a 352%* increase in the number of break ins in our owned properties, many of which are awaiting remedial works due to structural or hazardous issues. Sadly, despite clear signage and visible warnings, we are still seeing people enter our properties without permission. The signs are there for a reason. If you ignore signage and enter this kind of property you could be in danger of getting seriously injured or exposed to harmful substances."

The council have confirmed that security and CCTV are in use in their empty properties and that they won't hesitate to report those trespassing to police.

The hidden dangers inside empty buildings could be:

Asbestos
Older buildings may contain asbestos in walls, ceilings, insulation and pipework. If disturbed, tiny fibres can be released into the air and breathed into the lungs.

Unsafe floors and staircases
Floors may collapse without warning. Stairs, roofs and balconies may be unstable.

Broken glass and sharp objects
Hidden debris can cause serious cuts and infections.

Electrical hazards
Damaged wiring and equipment can cause electric shocks or fires.

Structural failures
Walls, ceilings and roofs can collapse unexpectedly.

You may not be found quickly
If you are injured inside a vacant building, help may not reach you in time.

*In the last 12 months (July 2025 – June 2026) we had 719 Alarm Activations which is an increase of 352% on the 12 months prior (July 2024 – June 2025) where we had 159 Alarm Activations