Alley-Gating in Liverpool
Solution types
Problems addressed
Effectiveness

Effective

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Effective

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Life periods served
Where the program was applied
Country of application
Description

This is a program that consists of installing high-strength security gates and doors at the access points to alleys or passages with the aim of reducing crime in common spaces within residential areas. The initiative allows access only to local residents, who operate with a copy of the access key.
The planning and official permit process to install the gates can take up to a year, considering that the permit must be approved by all residents associated with the installation. Also, if the alley is a structural public road with double traffic, the use of this type of intervention may be prohibited.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that the installation of security gates at passageway entrances resulted in a 37% reduction in robberies in those specific areas. The authors found that the greater the number of gates installed, the greater the reduction in thefts [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Bowers, K. J., Johnson, S. D. & Hirschfield, A. F. G. (2004). Closing Off Opportunities for Crime: An Evaluation of Alley-Gating. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 10(4), 285–308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-005-5502-0

Information source