Fences Work! Whether It’s Borders or Back Alleys

The idea that boundaries represent intolerance or exclusion has become fashionable, yet it fundamentally misunderstands human nature and social order. Whether securing a national border or the alley beside your home, fences represent clarity, clarity about what is acceptable, permissible, and protected. When fences disappear, predictably, so does order.

A boundary, be it physical or metaphorical, communicates unmistakably the expectations and standards of a community. Economics and psychology both remind us of the basic reality that incentives and disincentives shape human behaviour profoundly. Fences, literal barriers, introduce practical disincentives to crime, discouraging trespass, theft, and violence. Historical evidence, reinforced by modern security practices, confirms consistently that clearly defined boundaries reduce crime significantly.

Critics suggest fences merely displace crime, but statistical realities tell a different story. Areas with robust physical barriers experience fewer intrusions, lower property crime, and less overall violence. Security professionals have long recognised that criminals select targets based on ease and opportunity. Fences, locked doors, surveillance, and controlled entry points impose costs on criminal activity. Criminals, no less than investors or entrepreneurs, respond rationally to incentives and barriers. When confronted with resistance, criminals generally choose softer targets elsewhere or, ideally, abandon criminal intent altogether.

In the Northern Territory there was a very real and profound increase in the crime rate of suburbs with fencing covenants compared to surrounding suburbs without them. Over time as those properties place up barriers, fencing or walls the crime rate lowers. Its not rocket science, its common sense.

The effectiveness of fences extends beyond individual properties to entire nations. Countries enforcing clear borders consistently experience lower crime rates, more stable communities, and healthier economies. This result is neither complicated nor mysterious. Secure borders ensure that entry is deliberate, managed, and lawful, preventing criminal elements and organised networks from exploiting gaps. Conversely, open or weakly managed borders encourage crime, trafficking, and instability, leaving communities vulnerable to disorder.

Psychological realism reminds us that human behaviour thrives within clearly articulated structures. Individuals require explicit boundaries, or chaos inevitably follows. The moral confusion introduced by ambiguous boundaries does not create a kinder society, it fosters environments ripe for exploitation. Community policing and neighbourhood security emphasise the vital role of clearly demarcated territories in promoting collective responsibility and deterring antisocial behaviour.

Critics invoke compassion to argue against barriers, claiming they symbolize distrust or hostility. But this reasoning ignores the truth that boundaries are compassionate precisely because they protect the innocent and deter the guilty. Without fences, those who respect laws and norms bear the costs imposed by those who do not. Societies without clear boundaries become perpetual victims of disorder, crime, and insecurity. True compassion demands that we protect our communities vigorously.

A basic example of barriers we all hold dear is that of our own assertive space, when someone comes within our own invisible borders, its only reasonable to ask someone to step back or we ourselves may move away. Borders are not bad, they protect our own personal freedoms and autonomy.

Security practice consistently confirms the wisdom that barriers function effectively as crime deterrents. From gated neighbourhoods to national frontiers, clear boundaries reduce crime by raising the cost of criminal action and limiting opportunities. Philosophically, morally, and practically, fences and borders embody the recognition that not all actions and individuals are equal, and not all intentions honourable. Boundaries are a testament to society’s understanding that liberty and safety require clearly enforced distinctions between acceptable and unacceptable behaviours.

Fences are not just barriers, they are statements. They clarify, protect, and stabilise. In a world of uncertainty and complexity, clear boundaries provide essential order, reassuring citizens that society will actively defend the rights, property, and safety of the law-abiding majority. From the author.

The opinions and statements are those of Sam Wilks and do not necessarily represent whom Sam Consults or contracts to. Sam Wilks is a skilled and experienced Security and Risk Consultant with 3 decades of expertise in the fields of Real estate, Security, and the hospitality/gaming industry. Sam has trained over 1,000 entry level security personnel, taught defensive tactics, weapons training and handcuffs to policing personnel and the public. His knowledge and practical experience have made him a valuable asset to many organisations looking to enhance their security measures and provide a safe and secure environment for their clients and staff.