Alley gating

General principles

The County Council has powers to gate a highway in order to prevent crime or ASB from occurring.

In general, rights of way do not cause or facilitate crime. Anti-social behaviour is a wider social problem, the root of which cannot be tackled by reducing access to a public highway. The provisions in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act limits Gating Orders use to alleyways where it can be shown that persistent crime and ASB is expressly facilitated by the use of certain rights of way.

Consideration of other tools to tackle crime and ASB

Gating orders are not the only solution to tackling crime and ASB on certain highways. Before proposing an order, consideration must be given to whether there are alternative measures that may be more appropriate (and cost effective) for tackling the specific problems, which do not involve gating the highway. Government advice gives examples of the installation of security lighting and CCTV. Gating orders should be seen as a last resort.

Procedure

The use of a gating order will only be considered in the following circumstances:

i) on public highways (generally urban alleyways) where it can be shown that persistent crime and/or serious ASB is occurring and is expressly facilitated by the use of the public highway. Written documentary evidence is required from the police and or local crime reduction partnership to confirm that persistent crime and/or antisocial behaviour is occurring;

ii) in locations where local residents and the local crime reduction partnership have been consulted and both support a highway closure to deter persistent crime and/or serious ASB. (Following the reduction of the crime or the ASB, temporary restrictions should be reviewed and a decision taken on whether or not the order could beneficially be varied or revoked.)

iii) where residents and members of the public who use the relevant highway would not be inappropriately inconvenienced by its gating, and a suitable alternative access route exists. If there is any doubt over the availability of alternate routes and/or the proposed times the gates will be closed, a Health Impact Assessment should be carried out;

iv) where careful consideration has been given to the impact a potential order might have on disabled users of the highway and alternative routes are free from obstructions, are substantially as convenient in length and are suitably paved. During the installation of gates, consideration must be given to the height of the locks and the ease with which they can be opened and closed by disabled users;

v) when alternative solutions for tackling the specific problems being experienced, such as the installation of security lighting, CCTV, increased police officer surveillance or neighbourhood watch, have been fully investigated or tried, and have been found to be ineffective or prohibitively more costly than gating.

vi) suitable arrangements can be made for the consistent and timely opening and closing of the gates.

Working in Partnership on Anti-social Behaviour

The County Council work with the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships which are based on District Council boundaries.

North Bedfordshire Community Safety Partnership

Alan Paul
Community Safety Officer
Environment and Community Unit
Bedford Borough Council
The Town Hall
St Paul's Square,
Bedford
Bedfordshire.
MK40 1SJ

Mid Bedfordshire Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

Debbie Lawson
Community Safety Manager
Mid Beds District Council
The Limes,
12 Dunstable Street
Ampthill
Beds
MK45 2JU

South Bedfordshire Community Safety Partnership

Jeanette Keyte
South Beds District Council
District Council Offices
High Street North
Dunstable
Beds