Gating orders

View the register of gating orders (PDF, 16k).

Installing alley gates on paths can be an effective way of reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in an area, with the potential added benefits of creating safe areas for play and quiet recreation. This may contribute to improving community spirit.

This guidance specifically relates to the installation of alley gates on public rights of way, public highways and other paths over which public rights may have been established.

Advice on installing alley gates on private access paths is available from Police Architectural Liaison Officers.

Gating orders were introduced in 2006 to enable public highways to be gated in cases where the highway facilitates crime and anti-social behaviour, either on the highway or premises adjacent to it.

Gating orders do not extinguish the public highway rights, however. They enable gates to be installed and locked to prevent use of the highway by the public; residents still have access. Gates may be locked at certain times of day, for instance if the crime and anti-social behaviour occurs at night time.

Gating orders cannot interrupt access to businesses during opening hours.

Gating orders are not permanent. Circumstances change and the original reason for making a gating order may no longer apply. Orders will be periodically reviewed and may be revoked or changed to allow public use of the highway again.

The first point of contact for any request to install alley gates is the local crime and disorder reduction partnerships. These comprise a wide range of partners such as the police service, district and county authorities, health trusts and fire services.

They are tasked with identifying crime and disorder problems within their area and taking action to address it. Only those applications brought forward with the support of the partnerships will be considered.

Before making an order, the highway authority must be satisfied that premises adjoining or adjacent to the highway are affected by persistent crime or anti-social behaviour and that it is facilitated by the existence of the highway.

The successful making of a gating order cannot be guaranteed. Orders are subject to public consultation and scrutiny and may be opposed for entirely valid reasons.

There are no current consultations for gating orders at present.