RESIDENTS of a crime-hit area of York are among some of the first in the city to benefit from official security "alleygates".

Police hope a metal gate restricting access to an alleyway behind Walpole Street, in The Groves, will deter criminals and cut burglaries.

The owners of 30 properties which can be reached through the alleyway have been given keys to the gate, which is the first in the city to be put up under the official "alleygating" scheme.

Dozens more alleyways in parts of The Groves, Clifton and the Clementhorpe and South Bank area will also be gated once legal and paperwork is completed.

Community sergeant Bob Mowat, who is responsible for the city centre, said data analysts have targeted specific streets where "alleygating" is expected to make a difference. He said: "Nationally 'alleygating' has proved to be very successful in reducing house burglaries, but people must remember to take simple security steps. We can spend thousands of pounds on these gates, but if people still go out to the shops or the pub and leave their front door unlocked, they will be burgled."

Walpole Street is in the first wave of streets to be gated because, police said, it was easier to get the permission of the small number of residents as they were all owner-occupiers.

In January, residents in Foxwood used their community funds of up to £11,000 to erect wooden gates across several snickets and alleys. The unofficial scheme was targeted by vandals who removed padlocks.

Updated: 10:52 Wednesday, June 09, 2004