Illustration of the proposed Wirral Area Command Centre

The Merseyside Police Architectural Liaison Unit is dedicated to improving community safety and reducing crime and disorder by 'Designing Out Crime' at the planning and pre-planning stages thereby enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors to Merseyside.

The ALU works to the principles of 'Secured By Design' which is a proven Association of Chief Police Officers National Crime Reduction initiative, which encourages the building industry to adopt crime prevention measures in development design to assist in reducing the opportunity for crime and fear of crime, helping to create a safer and more secure environment to live and work.

Experienced Police Officers

Merseyside Police Architectural Liaison Officers are all experienced police officers who have undertaken specialist crime reduction and designing out crime training. Their specialist knowledge is used to design out crime from existing, proposed and refurbishment projects throughout the county.

The ALO officers are able to advise architects, planning officers, developers and other professionals on all aspects of designing out crime and the principles of secured by design, and seek solutions that satisfy the needs of all our partners. They also provide training to relevant agencies and architects practices and offer free advice on all aspects of the built environment.

Building developments to the principles of secured by design have proven over the last 20 years to reduce crime and disorder and the fear of crime by as much as 85%. Secured by design developments have also, on average reduced crime and disorder by 50%.

Merseyside Police encourages all architects and developers to consult with our ALOs at the early stages of design in the knowledge that by working together we can significantly reduce crime and impact upon the safety of Merseyside residents and businesses.

Design and Access Statements

There is a requirement to include within all design and access statements the crime prevention measures that are to be adopted within any development. We have produced a design and access statement advice sheet, an example for anyone to use when producing their statement.

Wirral

All developments within the Wirral area must now be built to the principles of secured by design; The Police ALO must be consulted prior to submitting any application that reaches the applicable criteria.

The ALO will advise on crime prevention measures and produce a Designing Out Crime Advice' ('DOCA') report which will clearly show Wirral planning officers that the development will be built to the above principles.