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Call for blackout to curb vandals

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14 years 1 month ago #83818 by albertw
Call for blackout to curb vandals was created by albertw
www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=712230

Henley-on-Thames, England

Over the past two months, there have been a number of graffiti attacks in Sibella Way, Sonning Common, and a window at the health centre and another at the neighbouring dental practice were smashed.

Tony Chandler, of Lea Road, claims the problem did not exist before lights were installed in the alleway.

In a letter to the parish council’s general purposes committee, he said: “Using excessive lighting and leaving it on all night are serious errors. Graffiti artists require light and the time required to commit a crime is greatly reduced in the presence of light. There can be few, if any, bona-fide members of the public who use Sibella Way after 11pm. It makes sense to have the lights off at this time, thereby reducing the late-night problems that have been encountered since the lights were installed.”


Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/

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14 years 1 month ago #83822 by mjc
Replied by mjc on topic Re:Call for blackout to curb vandals
That's very interesting.

I'm sure we've all heard many times that increased lighting reduces crime. I don't think the correlation is as strong as some advocates suggest.

I woud like to see crime figures (if any exist) for crime rate prior, during, and after the blackout period (WWII) for British cities. I did a quick trawl some months back but didn't have much success.

Some lights are needed in my oppinion but feel that we are over illuminated.

An interesting observation. I cycle and one main road I travel is illuminated on one side only. The brightness of the other side of the road actually makes the darkness on the cycle track on the dark side appears very dark (not helped by the presence of a barrier between cycle track and road). I can't see very well if there's debris. Now a knee-jerk reaction would be to add lights - but the problem is caused by bad placement. If they staggered the lights one wouldn't need more and no problem. Bottom line - I think some lights are installed in places because existing lights make some places very dark in comparison and the eye's can't adjust that well. I suspect that some people then feel insecure and more lights are added.

Warning - my thoughts may deviate from reality.

Mark

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