Residents claim the turn out of street lights in Dorset has led to a rise in crime (From Thisisdorset)
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Residents claim the turn out of street lights in Dorset has led to a rise in crime
10:00am Thursday 4th October 2012 in Latest By James Tourgout
CONCERNS: A car and caravan targeted by arsonists in Littlemoor
RESIDENTS claim that a decision to turn out street lights has led to a rise in crime.
A warning was issued about criminals on the prowl after street lights were switched off in Dorset.
Councillor Les Ames told Dorset County Council’s environment overview committee that residents had raised concerns about burglars and car thieves.
His comments came as a 74-strong signature was handed into the committee from residents in the Bedford Road and Hereford Road area of Weymouth against street lights being turned off at night.
The warning comes just days after residents and councillors renewed calls for street lights in Littlemoor to be turned back on after an arson attack on a car in Geelong Close.
The county council has decided to switch off nearly all of its 20,000 street lights in residential roads between 1.30am and 6.30am to help save £150,000 from its street lighting budget.
Coun Ames, who represents the Portland Tophill ward, said that people in his area were suffering.
“Recently, we have had a number of incidents, according to residents, caused by the lack of lighting.
“There are a number of lanes in my area and I am told that people have been waiting in these dark areas and attempting to get in back doors. Cars have been damaged and broken into.”
He added: “It appears that it is getting quite serious.”
Under the scheme, full lighting was left on in town centres, high crime areas, busy roads, highly pedestrianised areas, roads with such features as humps and roundabouts.
Coun Ames said that police had told him that it was difficult to protect people with the street lights off.
The county councils’ environment overview committee agreed to note the petition and send a reply that the lighting for the area met the council’s policy.
Arsonists Destroy Vehicles On Town Estate
AN arson attack in Littlemoor has sparked calls to turn street lighting back on at night.
Arsonists torched a silver Audi early hours of Saturday. The blaze quickly spread to a caravan parked nearby.
Littlemoor councillors Andy Cooke and Rachel Rogers echoed calls from residents to bring back the lighting.
County councillor Mr Cooke said it had been a ‘mistake’ to turn a lot of the lights out and borough councillor Mrs Rogers said that the lights out policy was ‘contributing to more fear of crime in Littlemoor and beyond.’ Switching off street lighting in Littlemoor and other areas from the early hours to early morning is part of a county council plan to save £55m over three years.
In response to the decision, members of the Littlemoor Community Action Group launched a petition in June to get them switched back on, which will be presented to Dorset County Council.
They said they fear that with no lighting after midnight, crime will increase on the estate.
Comments(24)
annotator1
says...
10:59am Thu 4 Oct 12
It strikes me that anything, however poorly thought out to save a few quid, will do!
maximan
says...
11:30am Thu 4 Oct 12
cj07589
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12:03pm Thu 4 Oct 12
DucksQuack
says...
12:15pm Thu 4 Oct 12
I didn't feel any urges to commit a crime. I enjoyed the stars for the rest of my walk.
The issue is deeper than street lights, I applaud the scheme to turn them off and save money.
marabout
says...
12:56pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Big Marv
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1:17pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Maybe if the courts had less red tape to deal with, sentencing those who break the law could be done quicker too. Ho hum.
Micke12
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1:18pm Thu 4 Oct 12
scubadude
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1:41pm Thu 4 Oct 12
mark@greenhill
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2:02pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Lights or no lights, the local feral pikeys will still cause mayhem.
Until the do gooders that influence the judges & the CPS get kicked out, & we get some genuine sentencing in the courts, this sort of thing will continue.
Nobody caused arson on the estate from a prison cell?
bnaty12
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3:00pm Thu 4 Oct 12
bnaty12
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3:19pm Thu 4 Oct 12
scubadude wrote:Very correct on all points. Not to mention reducing light pollution that ruins the view of the night sky.
So we must be an exception- research WORLDWIDE into crime shows a reduction when the streetlighting is turned off- crooks need light to see, if its dark they need torches and look like crooks! People need to accept that the crime has nothing to do with the lighting, there has been no increase in Weymouth and our lights get turned off overnight- I wish they'd turn them off earlier actually- it makes the traffic slower and pedestrians more careful crossing the street- again backed by worldwide research. So Littlemoor has an issue with anti-social behaviour- that isn't news!
bootedsw
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3:33pm Thu 4 Oct 12
JelliedEel
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4:27pm Thu 4 Oct 12
maximan
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5:55pm Thu 4 Oct 12
JelliedEel wrote:Most criminals are low IQ drug addled opportunists not the sophisticated Raffles type your mind is conjuring up.....and if they were, would they be casing joints in Littlemoor?
I should think most crims use night vision goggles bought from flea bay and no longer creep around in black and white striped jumpers armed with a swag bag and high power torch. They probably welcome the lights being switched off.
websitedesigner
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7:16pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Caption Sensible
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10:23am Fri 5 Oct 12
I have paid for these lights. I accept that an urban area needs lighting. If I wanted complete darkness I would live in the country.
I despise getting up at 6 o'clock, then leaving home in complete darkness.
How long before someone is seriously injured?
Put the lights back on! Councillors do as you are told, you are public servants, uphold your Oath of Office. You are committing fraud by taking money and then not providing the service it is meant for.
marabout
says...
10:49am Fri 5 Oct 12
I have paid for these lights. I accept that an urban area DOES NOT need lighting. If I wanted complete darkness I would live in the country.(where they also pay the same amouth as me)
I despise getting up at 6 o'clock, then leaving home in complete darkness. (errr ???)
It will be a long time before someone is seriously injured?
Keep the lights off. Councillors do as you are told, you are public servants, uphold your Oath of Office. You are committing fraud by taking money and then not providing the service it is meant for. Save money and save energy by keeping the lights off.
marabout
says...
10:51am Fri 5 Oct 12
fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain
Not really fraud is it ???
Caption Sensible
says...
9:40pm Fri 5 Oct 12
marabout wrote:Maybe 'theft' would be a better description.
You are committing fraud by taking money and then not providing the service it is meant for. fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain Not really fraud is it ???
Because you see, and I quote:
"In a general sense, a tax is any contribution imposed by government upon individuals, for the use and service of the state, whether under the name of toll, tribute, tallage, gabel, impost, duty, custom, excise, subsidy, aid, supply, or other name". Ref. Black's Law Dictionary.
What other 'services', for which our taxes pay for, will now be lined up for removal, now that the precedent has been set? And without a commensurate reduction in taxation, in line with the supposed savings?
kwhat
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6:02am Mon 8 Oct 12
isitonlyme
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1:25pm Tue 9 Oct 12
lostnfound
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3:34pm Tue 9 Oct 12
I phoned DCC about the dazzling lights on the rox on stix about a fortnight ago and nothing appears to have happened - but then they are busy planning the unwanted changes to Preston Road. Perhaps you and others could phone and complain about the dazzle?
Under35andout
says...
10:31am Wed 10 Oct 12
if i was wanting to knick a car id go littlemoor ;p;
Crimbo says...
10:35am Thu 4 Oct 12
It's people that cause crime, not the lack of street lights!