POLICE have been called in to investigate residents' claims that a wheelie bin ruling could be running roughshod over crime-busting initiatives in Burnley.

Householders are being told to put the new wheelies outside their back yards and leave the gates ajar - leaving the door open, they say, to burglars and thieves.

The order from the council's refuse contract company, UK Waste, has brought a flood of complaints from residents, who say they are being forced to choose between police advice on home security and having their bins emptied.

Now police are being asked to investigate any link between the introduction of wheelie bins and possible rising crime.

Trinity councillor Kath Reade, said there had been growing concern since wheelie bins were introduced into terraced home areas of her ward and householders asked to leave the bins outside open yards.

Residents, she says, are worried following burglaries and the theft of items from the yards.

She successfully requested the council's community safety committee to call for a police inquiry into the situation. The council's contract with UK Waste stipulates that bins are left outside, with gates open.

It is understood a closed gates system requiring binmen to enter yards would have doubled the cost to the council on a contract which runs until the year 2000.

Today crime prevention spokesman, PC David Sykes, said police advice remained that gates should be kept shut to deter criminals.

He said there was no evidence to show an increase in crime but police had been in touch with the council following complaints to try and find a solution.

Coun Mrs Reade said: "On the one hand UK Waste are asking for gates to be left open, while police advice has always been to close gates to prevent the opportunities for crime.

"Certainly residents believe there has been an increase in crime since wheelie bins were introduced."

A Burnley council spokesman said any change in the system could bring a change in the charge to the authority, he said.

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