HIGHWAYS
Research from the council’s highways team has shown that some of the borough’s
most poorly lit streets tend to suffer from higher crime rates, reports
Deborah Dickey. That is why ‘hotspots’ are getting new lighting.
“W
e have been
improving the
lighting in crime
hotspots for five
years now and 23 separate paths
and streets have received an
upgrade,” said Councillor Bassam
Mahfouz, cabinet member for
transport, environment and leisure.
“Poorly lit areas can make
residents feel nervous and
unfortunately attract those who
want to carry out anti-social
behaviour and crime.
“By increasing the number of
street lights and, where possible,
upgrading them to brighter LED
lights, we have literally shed light
on the problem and taken away
the criminals’ hiding places.”
One area that has been
upgraded is Beaconsfield Road,
Southall (in the photo). In July
2012 work started to make the
area brighter and safer in response
to concerns raised by local people
and councillors. The residential
road is near Southall train station
and suffered from above average
crime rates and had below
standard lighting.
In the year prior to the lighting
upgrade, the police had dealt with
more than 80 complaints linked to
poor lighting, including damage
to vehicles, assault, burglary,
Councillor Mahfouz
under the lights in
Beaconsfield Road
LIGHTING FACTS
23 lighting upgrades completed
Three more coming this year
£377,000 invested
Crime reduced by an average of 17%
across the 23 completed schemes
harassment and drugs possession.
The council invested £30,000
in changing the 41 old fashioned
orange sodium streetlights to
brighter LED and the result was
a significant drop in criminality
with around 20% less night
time crimes reported to police.
Significantly, no night time
burglaries or car theft were
reported in Beaconsfield Road
in the most up-to-date crime
stats from 2014.
Sergeant Billy Wilson from
the Southall Broadway safer
neighbourhood team has noticed
the difference. He said: “The new
lights are much brighter and give
us a far better view along the
street. They have also reduced
the shadows in which criminals
like to hide.”
Councillor Mahfouz continued:
“It makes sense that if a street is
well lit, it will be less attractive
to criminals. The good news is
that new LED lanterns are being
added across the borough so
every street is eventually going
to benefit from this improved
lighting, while saving the
council money on electricity
and maintenance bills. We are
investing £6million in this switch,
and I believe this is money
well spent.”
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