Alley gating
Find out about alley gating and how to go about installing an alley gate in your neighbourhood, to help improve security and reduce crime.
What is alley gating?
Many burglaries occur where intruders enter a property at the rear, often where there is an alley or footpath for access.
To help reduce this type of crime and improve the security of your property and that of your neighbours, you may be able to install special gates to prevent access to alleyways and footpaths.
Installing alley gates
Talk to your neighbours to see if they are interested in setting up a scheme to organise and fund an alley gate. You will need to think about possible costs, eg maintenance, insurance, the cost of a set of keys for each neighbour.
Find out who owns the alleyway. If it is a footpath or public right of way, eg an adopted road maintained by East Sussex highways, it is against the law to prevent the public from using it but it may still be possible to put in a gate if the footpath is 'de-adopted'.
Contact your Local area highway office to find out more.
Further information
Find out more about alley gating from the Crime Reduction website.
Your local Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) can offer advice about alley gating and other ways to reduce crime in your area. Contact your local NPT.
