More than œ2.2m will have been spent on Liverpool?s alleygate project by April 2003.
This will mean a total of around 4,500 gates around the city. An extra scheme to cover businesses could be in place by the end of next year. In areas already gated burglary rates have fallen between 25 per cent and 55pc. The details of the alleygating programme, which is carried out by a partnership including the city council and Safer Merseyside Partnership, are revealed in a report going to Liverpool City Council?s executive board on November 29. Councillors are to be asked to agree these figures. They will also be asked to agree to extra staff being taken on to deal with the ever increasing demand – there are around 200 phone calls a week asking for information.
What they say
Executive member for community safety Richard Kemp said: “There?s no doubt that alleygates are having a real impact on cutting burglary rates, not to mention repeat victimisation, graffiti, fly tipping and anti-social behaviour. This is a fantastic scheme, and one where Liverpool is really the first in the country to be so successful. But we do recognise that we need to manage the growing demand, and also make sure schemes are completed as fast as possible to make sure burglars don?t target vulnerable houses near to homes which have already been gated.? Visit www.liverpool.gov.uk
