Around the country: Liverpool

These pictures were taken last week on a campaign visit to Liverpool on the 22nd Feb. Liverpool City Council has been Lib Dem controlled since 1998 and has received national acclaim for innovative measures to deal with crime and anti social behaviour. One very popular initiative is "alley gating" where the entrances to the back alleys of terraced houses are fitted with gates which only residents can unlock. The gates are made at the Lighthouse project (where the photos were taken) where people dealing with substance misuse problems are given skills training as well as other practical help to re-build their lives. The metal workshop where the alleygates are made is one of the skills being taught.