Darkness does not increase crime: The evidence
Des Moines Register newspaper, USA: Darkened streetlights fail to raise crime rate. ''A money-saving decision to turn off thousands of Des Moines street- lights met with dire predictions from critics who warned that darkened streets would create a haven for crime. Statistics tell a different story. The first four months of 2004 saw a 3.5 percent drop in vandalism, burglary and robbery...''
Crime in West Sussex reduced in the period in the 1980s when many street-lights were turned off late at night
Belgium celebrates an annual Night of Darkness celebration, where local councils and business switch off part of their outdoor lighting. At the same time, public events are organised on the theme of the night. In 2005, around 20,000 people participated in the celebration. In the streets where lights were turned off, no crime was reported. Although one car was stolen from a street where the street lights remained on.
Detroit, Michigan, a city with one of the highest crime rates in the USA, experienced fewer police calls than normal during the power failure of August 2003, which lasted through the whole night. Officials stated that: ''Police had fewer calls within the city of Detroit than an average day, even with the blackout.''
''Outdoor Lighting Principles for Australia'' shows how crime was cut drastically during a period of power cuts
the IDA's ''Dark Campus'' program reduced vandalism on school campus' by turning of the lights when there were not required. One UK school caretaker said ''...lights encourage break-ins. With the best will in the world it is impossible to guarantee that every window is securely closed in every room in a school with many builds spread over a large site.''
By legalbeagle
Des Moines Register newspaper, USA: Darkened streetlights fail to raise crime rate. ''A money-saving decision to turn off thousands of Des Moines street- lights met with dire predictions from critics who warned that darkened streets would create a haven for crime. Statistics tell a different story. The first four months of 2004 saw a 3.5 percent drop in vandalism, burglary and robbery...''
Crime in West Sussex reduced in the period in the 1980s when many street-lights were turned off late at night
Belgium celebrates an annual Night of Darkness celebration, where local councils and business switch off part of their outdoor lighting. At the same time, public events are organised on the theme of the night. In 2005, around 20,000 people participated in the celebration. In the streets where lights were turned off, no crime was reported. Although one car was stolen from a street where the street lights remained on.
Detroit, Michigan, a city with one of the highest crime rates in the USA, experienced fewer police calls than normal during the power failure of August 2003, which lasted through the whole night. Officials stated that: ''Police had fewer calls within the city of Detroit than an average day, even with the blackout.''
''Outdoor Lighting Principles for Australia'' shows how crime was cut drastically during a period of power cuts
the IDA's ''Dark Campus'' program reduced vandalism on school campus' by turning of the lights when there were not required. One UK school caretaker said ''...lights encourage break-ins. With the best will in the world it is impossible to guarantee that every window is securely closed in every room in a school with many builds spread over a large site.''
By legalbeagle
