Liverpool follows up on alley gates scheme

23/04/2009

Community crime fighters have been employed to make Liverpool a safer place, as the local council follows up on other initiatives, such as the alley gates scheme.

"Pioneering initiatives such as our alley gating scheme have reduced crime massively over the last few years," commented councillor Marilyn Fielding, Liverpool's executive member for safer, stronger communities.

A team of 150 volunteers have been recruited after a national evaluation called Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime, which looked into how local authorities, police and criminal justice agencies could do more to work with locals to lower crime.

The volunteers will be given training to help them work with local authorities to tackle crime.

"Merseyside Police is pleased to support this initiative," commented Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Helen King.

The council recently revealed the Annual Audit and Inspection Letter from the Audit Commission said the local authority is "working well" to deal with issues in managing its resources and enhancing performance in priority areas, which could include impressive work on gates schemes.