Crime rise fears over street light turn-off

Matthew Barber has opposed changes to street lights in West Berkshire and Oxfordshire

A plan to switch off street lights during the night risks damaging public safety and confidence, a police boss has warned.

West Berkshire Council believes it would save £50,000 a year by turning lights off between midnight and 05:00 in residential areas.

But Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber has written to council leader Jeff Brooks to express worries about the potential impact on women and vulnerable people's safety.

Mr Brooks said the authority needed to make “increasingly difficult decisions” because of higher costs and plans to save £1.2m in 2025/26.

In the letter, Mr Barber said: “It is interesting to note that you are currently proposing these changes only in residential areas and not in town centres around the night time economy.

“This seems to suggest that you do recognise the benefits of street lighting to keeping people safe and making them feel safe – but only in certain locations. We know that both the fear of crime and the actual risk are not limited to town centres itself.”

Mr Brooks said his council's proposals would prioritise vulnerable residents and minimise the impact on its frontline services.

'Important decisions'

He told the BBC: "We are having to consider measures that will assist us in making the financial savings necessary to balance our budget and ensure that we prioritise the help that our vulnerable residents need.

"However, we are consulting on these measures, and we will take all responses very seriously once the consultation period ends on 23 December.

"The Police and Crime Commissioner’s comments will be very well considered in our deliberations as will all other responses.

"Nothing is decided and we welcome all comments – these are very important decisions."

Elsewhere, Slough Borough Council said its plan to dim street lights overnight would be “unnoticed by most people”.

It will power lights to half of their brightness between dusk and 22:00, 40% between 22:00 and midnight and 30% from midnight to dawn after councillors approved a plan last month.

Oxfordshire County Council has outlined a proposal to switch off most of its 60,000 street lights overnight.

But that was paused after an outcry over safety concerns, including from Mr Barber.