Brighter news on crime in areas where Essex dims lights

19 November 2008

Essex County Council is to consider part-night streetlighting across the county, following a successful trial.

Two pilot schemes carried out in the county over the past 18 months revealed a fall in crime during the hours the lights were turned off.

The trials involved switching-off most of the streetlights in residential areas in Uttlesford and Maldon for around five hours at night in each district – between midnight and 5am.

Exceptions were made for locations such as town centres or thoroughfares, key road junctions and road accident sites.
Evidence was gathered via a joint monitoring group consisting of representatives from Essex County and district councils, police, fire, and ambulance services.

Their reports show that crime has fallen, and there have been no police-reported traffic accidents during the times when the lights were switched off.

An all-party group will now consider the scheme in public.

Councillor Norman Hume, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: ‘I believe that this is the most appropriate course of action in order to ensure the evidence collected during the trials can be considered in its entirety and closely scrutinised prior to a decision being taken on the way forward.

‘We face significant challenges in meeting the ever-increasing costs of providing all-night streetlighting across Essex, and also in meeting the quality of life expectations of our residents.’

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