The Effects of ‘Alley-Gating’ in an English Town

John Haywood Greater Manchester Police, UK Paula Kautt Loughborough University, UK Andrew Whitaker Greater Manchester Police,

Terraced housing is particularly vulnerable to burglary where the offender gains access from the rear of the premises. ‘Alley-gating’ attempts to prevent this by fitting robust gates across alleyway access points and is currently used in Oldham, North West England. This study evaluates its effectiveness at preventing burglary via statistical and geographic information system (GIS) analysis of crime data from alley-gate treatment sites in Oldham. Focus group data also identify secondary effects beyond crime reduction not apparent from the quantitative analyses. We argue that clearer understanding of the contextual dynamics specific to the gated area, together with careful analytical work and use of computerized crime mapping programmes, can inform strategic decision-making and further reduce victimization.