CASE STUDY
Reducing incidents of ASB and Trespassing - Merseyside Police
Client: Merseyside Police
Industry/Sector: Residential properties under Local Authority care
Location: Knowsley Borough, Liverpool
Site type: Various - fences, walls, gates, bin stores etc
Introduction
A residential estate in the Knowsley Borough of Liverpool was raised as a 'community priority' for the Local Policing Team due to the high levels of crime and disorder in the area. The properties in question on this particular housing estate were all Local Housing Association owned, and being a socially deprived area unfortunately there was no budget available to support residents here.
Challenge
Numerous properties throughout the estate were being targeted by large groups of youths committing damage, arson offences, trespassing into gardens, and generally behaving anti-socially. The issues were largely enabled by youths climbing onto and over fences and walls between residential properties and private communal spaces such as bin stores, causing extensive damage as a result.
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Due to the area being escalated as a 'community priority', patrols are diverted to this area and a dedicated targeting plan implemented to try and alleviate the issues here, placing high demand on policing services. As part of this plan, The Local Policing team requested Danii Wohler’s support as the local Designing Out Crime Officer to establish any specific physical vulnerabilities which may contribute towards the issues in the area.
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Objectives
The key objective was to reduce the number and level of ASB incidents and trespassing which was inevitably causing not just damage to properties, but distress to the residents.
Merseyside Police had a budget to spend on crime prevention equipment and with a number of problem sites in Merseyside that needed solutions it was important that they spent it as cost-effectively as possible.
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Solution
Product Used: DefendaStrip Flex anti-climb strip
Why This Product: Effective, low-cost, easy and quick to install, easy to adapt for different installation areas, maintenance free, Secured by Design accredited
Merseyside Police obtained Proceeds of Crime funding and invested in a quantity of Defendastrip Flex strips which are Secured by Design accredited, and DefendaStrip / SBD / Merseyside Police bespoke collaborative warning signage produced to accompany any Flex deployed.
Implementation
Danii Wohler, DOCO for Merseyside Police, conducted an Environmental Visual Audit of the residential estate along with the Local Policing Team and the area Problem Solving Officer and identified vulnerable areas and properties, establishing that they would benefit from anti-climb measures to prevent such behaviours.
A further EVA (Environmental Visual Assessment) was conducted by the housing association in company with the Local Policing team which identified further properties and resulted in successful engagement with the affected residents.
Danii was then able to provide a large quantity of Flex and associated signage, for use at the identified properties, which the housing association fitted to fences and walls where trespass and anti-social behaviour were most prevalent.
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Results
It has been reported by Danii that the Flex strips were fitted in the Spring/Summer of 2025, and to date (Nov 2025), despite several school holidays, mischief night, halloween, bonfire night etc, there have been no further reports of such issues, which we believe is directly attributed to the use of DefendaStrip Flex in preventing unlawful access to gardens, bin stores and other at risk areas.
The Police Community Support Officer for the area has stated there has been next to no anti-social behaviour in the area since the installation and commented “this is amazing given that the year prior to fitting there were often several calls for service to Merseyside Police every day. So in conclusion I would say they are a really good piece of equipment in resolving issues around ASB etc”.
Conclusion
From the feedback obtained and significant decrease in such incidents occurring, the installation of the Flex in key areas has been a resounding success. One of three anti-climb products that we produce, the Flex is our entry level option in our range which is the only anti-climb defensive cone system to meet the Secured By Design Police Preferred Specification for security products.
