The rape of a teenage girl in a city centre lane has prompted calls for alleys to be closed off in a bid to prevent sex assaults.
Police are investigating an attack on a 17-year-old girl in Renfrew Lane, Glasgow, next to the Pavilion Theatre.
Campaigners from Glasgow Women’s Aid said officials should look into blocking it and similar alleys off.
A spokesman added: “If these are areas where rapists are targeting to take women, then we need to make them as hard to access as possible.
“If there is anything that can be done to make women safer, of course we would be supportive of that.
“It’s outrageous that we have to even discuss these things but it is a fact of life and unfortunately, it does happen.”
Some lanes have been gated and access restricted in the past after sex attacks, drug dealing and vandalism.
Last Friday’s attack is not included in the 182 sexual assaults and rapes that took place in the city centre between April 2018 and March this year.
Six violent crimes have taken place in city lanes, including Sauchiehall Lane and West Regent Lane, since last July.
Glasgow City Council said a lane strategy published last year concluded that erecting gates and lighting was found to have a “limited impact” on crime.
A spokesman added: “It recommended encouraging greater activity and footfall on lanes by making them a more active, safe and attractive part of the city centre.
“The council has established a fund to support this.”
A 17-year-old has been arrested in connection with the attack.
