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Welcome to city's street of shame
Welcome to Preston's most crime-ridden street.
Manchester Road, Avenham, is a hotspot of disorder and anti-social behaviour, according to police figures.
Between April 2008 and April 2009 there were 36 offences on the stretch, including assaults, thefts and racially-motivated offences.
The number of crimes has increased by more than 38% despite the street being fitted with alleygates in a bid to clamp down on problems.
But community leaders today insisted there was no crime epidemic and claimed the alleygates are doing their job.
Coun Salim Desai said some of the problems are gang related.
He added: "There has been issues with hoodies who have been going round in this area and I think there are a couple of gangs in the area.
"The police have taken action in the area and really cut back on it. There is still work to be done though."
He said the rise in racist incidents could be down to changes in crime reporting by the police.
"I don't think it has got any more serious in terms of racially aggravated incidents," he added.
Fellow town centre ward Coun Michael Lavalette added: "The numbers are so small that the statistics can mislead as much as lead.
"If you have a prolific robber you have got a problem with one person but if they get involved with three to five robberies your annual crime figures increase.
"Some of the alleygates were removed because they were doing roadworks."
The figures, from official police crime reports, were revealed as part of an annual review of alleygates across Preston.
Members of Preston's Lancashire Local Committee, made up of Preston and Lancashire County councillors, will debate the issue tomorrow.
Alleygates were first introduced in 2007 and were phased across seven areas of the city which were known to be crime hotspots.
The figures reveal Manchester Road had more crime than any other alleygated street last year and was one of the few streets where crime increased.
A statement from police, included in a report to councillors, said there had been a "rise in crime in general on Manchester Road".
It added: "The main crime concerned when deciding to erect gates, burglary in a dwelling, has in fact seen a reduction."
Despite the increase in crime in Manchester Road, general crime in the town centre ward fell by 34.9% in a year – a reduction of 141 crimes.
Crime on alleygates streets reduced by 5.5%. A spokesman for Preston Council said: "Response from residents since the fitting of the gates has continued to be positive with a belief that gates have resulted in a reduction in anti-social behaviour and an increased sense of safety."
Insp Jill Halliwell, of Preston police, said: "Unlike most residential areas with alleygates Manchester Road, due to its close proximity to the city centre, is disproportionately affected by the night-time economy, a situation emphasized in these figures.
"However, one of the key reasons for the installation of alleygates is to reduce household burglary something achieved in this case with no recorded burglaries or damage to vehicles throughout a 12 month period."
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Weather for Preston
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
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