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| 'Alley-gates' anti-crime vote due | 'Alley-gates' anti-crime vote due |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| AMs are to vote on legislation which could make it simpler for councils to tackle anti-social behaviour by installing gates to block alleys. | AMs are to vote on legislation which could make it simpler for councils to tackle anti-social behaviour by installing gates to block alleys. |
| "Alley-gating" is the policy of putting locked gates at each end of alleyways running behind homes. | "Alley-gating" is the policy of putting locked gates at each end of alleyways running behind homes. |
| It aims to make it more difficult for burglars, and stops the alleys being used by fly-tippers or drug addicts. | It aims to make it more difficult for burglars, and stops the alleys being used by fly-tippers or drug addicts. |
| An assembly government spokesman said pilot schemes were underway and there had been consultation on the proposals. | An assembly government spokesman said pilot schemes were underway and there had been consultation on the proposals. |
| On Tuesday, assembly members will vote on new regulations which will allow councils the discretion to gate certain lanes or paths in order to prevent crime. | On Tuesday, assembly members will vote on new regulations which will allow councils the discretion to gate certain lanes or paths in order to prevent crime. |
| Tackle issues | Tackle issues |
| Alley-gating has become more popular with police forces and local councils throughout the UK. | Alley-gating has become more popular with police forces and local councils throughout the UK. |
| "The provisions will allow local authorities to work with the police and local communities to tackle any areas of anti-social behaviour," the assembly government statement said. | "The provisions will allow local authorities to work with the police and local communities to tackle any areas of anti-social behaviour," the assembly government statement said. |
| "Lanes or paths could be gated at certain times of day only, and gating orders should be reviewed regularly. | "Lanes or paths could be gated at certain times of day only, and gating orders should be reviewed regularly. |
| "It will be important for other approaches to tackle issues of local crime and anti-social behaviour to be considered as well. | "It will be important for other approaches to tackle issues of local crime and anti-social behaviour to be considered as well. |
| "Gating will not always be the most appropriate option." | "Gating will not always be the most appropriate option." |
| In 2005 the Vale of Glamorgan Council invested £300,000 on a gating scheme. | In 2005 the Vale of Glamorgan Council invested £300,000 on a gating scheme. |
| Reductions | Reductions |
| The alleys around 2,000 homes in Barry's Castleland area were blocked off. | The alleys around 2,000 homes in Barry's Castleland area were blocked off. |
| The keys to those gates were only given to the people who live in the houses backing on to the alley. | The keys to those gates were only given to the people who live in the houses backing on to the alley. |
| Since the installation South Wales Police said there had been a 58% reduction of house burglaries, a 42% reduction in car thefts and a 75% reduction in robberies. | Since the installation South Wales Police said there had been a 58% reduction of house burglaries, a 42% reduction in car thefts and a 75% reduction in robberies. |
| It also won a community award at the annual Association of Public Service Excellence awards. | It also won a community award at the annual Association of Public Service Excellence awards. |
| However, concerns have also been raised that blocking off alleys simply moves crime into other areas. | However, concerns have also been raised that blocking off alleys simply moves crime into other areas. |
| Trevor Jones, a criminologist from Cardiff University has said that it could reduce burglary in one area but lead to incidents rising by same amount in unprotected areas. | |
| Money to pay for the gates in the Vale came from the Welsh Assembly Government, the European Union and the private sector. | Money to pay for the gates in the Vale came from the Welsh Assembly Government, the European Union and the private sector. |
| In 2005, the Home Office announced five projects in Wales would received funding from a pot of £1.2m to improve areas blighted by anti-social behaviour. | In 2005, the Home Office announced five projects in Wales would received funding from a pot of £1.2m to improve areas blighted by anti-social behaviour. |
| These included Acrefair in Wrexham, Merthyr Tydfil, Hengoed, Blackwood and Nantyglo in Blaenau Gwent. | These included Acrefair in Wrexham, Merthyr Tydfil, Hengoed, Blackwood and Nantyglo in Blaenau Gwent. |