Crime prevention & school safety measures
Gating orders introduced by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act
Section 2 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 introduced powers that enable councils to make, vary or revoke gating orders on most public highways within their area (highways not included are: trunk roads, special roads and classified roads). This was achieved by inserting sections 129A to 129G into the Highways Act 1980, which enable councils to restrict public access to these highways and gate them (at certain times of the day if applicable), without removing the underlying highway status. Local authorities are able to make 'gating orders' on grounds of anti-social behaviour as well as crime.
Further information and Home Office guidance relating to the making of gating orders is available at: http://www.respect.gov.uk/members/article.aspx?id=7924
Extinguishment & diversion orders introduced by Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000
S
ections 118B and 119B of the Highways
Act 1980 enable local highway authorities to make an
application to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs to have an area designated for the purposes of crime prevention,
so that they can close or divert rights of way which are facilitating
offences such as robbery, arson, burglary and drug-dealing. These sections
also enable highway authorities to close or divert a right of way that
crosses school land, if necessary, for the purpose of protecting pupils
or staff.
Further information is available through the links below:
- Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 1479 - The Highways, Crime Prevention etc.(Special Extinguishment and Special Diversion Orders) Regulations 2003 (26 June 2003)
- Rights of way across school premises (link to Department for Education and Skills "Teachernet" website - 13 February 2003)
- Statutory Instrument 272 (c16) CROW Act 2000 Commencement Order No 3 (13 February 2003)
- Guidance
for local Highway Authorities: on crime prevention on public rights
of way - designation of areas (13 February 2003)
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KB)
Page last modified:
28 July 2008
Page published: 17 July 2001