Gates making Liverpool safer, study shows

24/03/2009

A study has shown that an alley gates scheme in Liverpool has significantly increased the amount of people feeling secure in their homes.

Research from the University of Huddersfield has revealed 99 per cent of residents are fully in favour of the gates initiative, which has seen 5,700 gates erected over the last decade, costing £10 million.

"This scheme has helped prevent countless burglaries and incidents of anti-social behaviour, and the associated heartache and stress it can bring," commented Marilyn Fielding, executive member for safer, stronger communities at Liverpool city council.

According to the study, burglary rates in areas with gates have stayed low and have gone down up to 37 per cent.

Councillors are now being asked to consider plans for 100 new schemes over the next two years, which will cost £1.3 million.

Earlier this month, Liverpool city council invited people to take a tour around Sefton Park to look at the £6 million improvement, which may have included work on gates.