Southampton street lights switch off sparks crime fears

Unveiled as part of the city council's budget for 2023/2024, the plans could see lights turned off for all or parts of the night in the city. 

This is being done in a bid to help fill a £2m black hole which the authority says has been caused by an increase in energy prices. 

It comes as the authority has forecast an overall shortfall of £28.9m for the next financial year. 

READ MORE: Southampton street lights could be switched off at night

But now concerns have been raised that switching off the lights could have a detrimental effect on crime rates.

The council's own risk assessment warned: "The fear of crime and the risk of assault may be greater for women and girls."

It also points out the joint third biggest demand in a recent Community Safety Survey was for better lighting across the city.

Areas with high crime rates may not see lights switched off.

Beccy Ruddick.

Beccy Ruddick, a supermarket worker in the city, catches a bus in the early hours of the morning and previously called on the council to do more to make bus stops safer. 

She told the Echo: "I definitely don't like the idea of reducing street lighting. 

"I appreciate stuff like the environment but at the same time there does need to be a consideration for the safety of women and girls and anybody really.

"This is what the public consultation is for. I would rather see improvements to street lighting."

Campaigner Helen Field said she thinks crime could rise as a result of the changes. 

Helen Field. (Image: Newsquest)

"I don’t think it is a good thing," she said. "We wouldn’t bother at all if street lights weren’t useful. 

"Unfortunately, we do live in a society where we have got records of violent attacks on woman and girls."

It comes as the authority says it could save up to £450,000 a year by cutting lighting and installing energy-saving lights. 

Mike Harris, CEO of the council, said: "We’ll be working with the police and our stakeholders to try and understand the views that they have to influence the solutions that we’ll come up with.

"But ultimately this needs to be evidence-based. Not only can it have a financial benefit, but it will also significantly benefit our carbon reduction approach as well.

"We made considerable attempts in recent years to provide better lighting and access in parks."

The council is set to launch a consultation on the lighting cuts if the budget is approved at a meeting next week. 

Daniel Fitzhenry. (Image: Newsquest)

But Conservative leader in Southampton, Cllr Daniel Fitzhenry said: “Six months into a new Labour council and they have shown their true colours.

"Cutting street lighting across our city, encouraging more crime whilst raising council tenant rents, service charges and heating bills on our most vulnerable residents in the city.

"This poorly organised and no plan Labour council is going to cut street lighting causing communities to feel unsafe right when they need help the most.

"Their lack of leadership and visions means the people of our city are suffering even though we left them a £10m surplus.”

Cllr Satvir Kaur, leader of the council, denied the administration was left with this money. 

She added: "Safety of residents is vitally important to us, which is why we’ll be working closely with the local police, using evidence and listening to feedback in any decisions made. 

"Street-lighting as a direct result of the energy crisis is costing £2m more every year, rather than taking this from frontline services our local communities rely on, it is right and fair that like other Local Authorities we look at efficiencies in our energy use, everything from using more LED lighting which reduces costs to where we can look at a reduction in use. "

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said: "I understand how challenging it is for the city council to balance its budget.

"However, there are many other things, which are not safety related, that I would look at first.

"Not least the cost to buy and run so many council vehicles, many of which are not used to their full capacity or used for journeys the taxpayer shouldn’t be funding.”

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