Aside from their practical functions, security fences also serve an important symbolic purpose. They demonstrate that a community takes safety and security seriously and is willing to invest in protecting its citizens. Security fences can also help create a sense of order and calm in an area, as they clearly delineate public and private spaces. Security fences are not without their critics, however. Some argue that these fences create a feeling of paranoia and isolation in communities. Others contend that they are ineffective at deterring crime and point to the fact that many criminals simply scale or jump over them.