Apr 10 2009 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

NORRIS Green?s Boot Estate has been given an award by police for its crime reducing design.

New City Vision have built all their homes with extra security features.

The scheme is part of Secured by Design, which looks at how estates are designed to ?design out? crime.

Greater emphasis is placed on features such as extra lighting.

Research shows Secured by Design can reduce burglary by 50% and criminal damage by 25%.

Merseyside Police?s Force Architectural Liaison Officer, Constable Paul Martin, said: ?Problems seen at the early stages were addressed and easily rectified prior to construction.

?This safer design, along with the presence of the neighbourhood policing team, can only be good news for the residents of this community.?