The Correlation of Street Lights and Crime

According to the British Home Office, crime increased hand-in-hand with major improvements in street lighting in the period following World War II. This increase was possibly one reason why the effects of street lighting on crime have not been studied extensively until recently. Recent studies suggest that there is a link between street lighting and crime, but present opposing viewpoints.

Decreased Crime

• According to an extensive review by the Campbell Collaboration, improved street lighting in the United Kingdom and the United States can reduce crime by up to 21 percent. The review found that street lighting increased surveillance and fostered pride in the community, which acted as a further deterrent against crime.

Increased Crime

• According to the Campaign for Dark Skies, street lighting can actually encourage criminal activity. Lighting can allow criminals to identify potential targets and escape routes and carry out a crime quickly and quietly.

Case Study

• In 2004, 17 percent of the street lights in the city of Des Moines, Iowa, were switched off as part of a cost-cutting exercise. Rather than increasing the rate of crime, this action reduced the incidence of vandalism, burglary and robbery by 3.5 percent over a four-month period.