Unlit Pavements: the danger it follows

Does street lighting prevent crime? The fear of crime influences travel and activity patterns, limits involvement in social activities, causes psychological stress and is probably a significant restraint on individual liberty. (Atkins, S., Husain, S., Storey, A., 1991) Unlit pavements can engage crimes such as street fights, sexual harassment, theft, violent crimes, and random acts of violence.

Many tourists have been victims of bag snatching by armed assailants on foot or motorbikes. In July 2017, a New Zealand man living in the Philippines was shot dead while being robbed of his bag when visiting a market on Bilirian Island. This crime typically occurs in dark streets or areas that make criminals too confident to commit such acts.

Improved street lighting has frequently been proposed as a technique that would reduce the risks of identification and minimize fear. It is argued that improved lighting will encourage people to notice suspicious activity, increase opportunities for surveillance, and thus serve as a warning, based on the assumption that crime is typically a hidden activity and that offenders will assess the risk of being seen when deciding whether or not to commit a crime.

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Written by: Jesica B. Ruda