LEDs to Reduce Crime in Gloucester Neighbourhoods

Residents in Gloucester are rallying together in order to combat crime in their neighbourhoods by having LED lights installed. The worried residents argue that the installations will light up areas such as alleyways and quiet streets much more effectively to deter potential criminals from committing crimes in these areas. They will also help to illuminate CCTV footage much more effectively, leading to a higher number of arrests and convictions for those who do commit crime in the area.

Steven Ellwood, Managing Director of BLT Direct, a leading supplier of LED light bulbs, says, “Many Neighbourhood Watch schemes and people concerned about the crime levels in their area are campaigning to get their street lamps turned into LED light bulbs. The bright illumination that they offer permeates all dark corners and they have low-energy consumption so councils can install more of them, and leave them on for much longer. Criminals are much less likely to commit crime whilst they in a spotlight.”

Councils considering using outdoor LED lights can take stock of the myriad of benefits for them, the council coffers and the residents of each region. LED lights, though slightly more expensive initially than the conventional halogen bulbs that are often used, have incredible energy-saving credentials, reducing the overall power consumption vastly. Once the council have installed the LED bulbs, they can sit back and reap the rewards as the years pass; the energy saved over the course of one year will pay back the initial investment that paid for the bulbs.

For the residents of these crime-stricken areas, LED bulbs are a welcome introduction. Their incredibly bright illumination beats halogen and fluorescent bulbs hands down, and there is no ‘warm-up’ process like many of the energy-saving bulbs that are used in streetlights. The bulbs will spread bright light in backstreets, alleyways and on quiet residential estates, deterring criminals from committing crimes there. If a criminal knows that they are likely to be identified due to bright light, they will be less likely to want to do something illegal.

The lights also help to increase identification abilities on CCTV cameras. Fluorescent bulbs can often cause glare which can be make identifying faces difficult, but LED bulbs lessen this glare effect and allow for more accurate images.

At a time when essential replacement is needed on many streets and in residential areas across the country, LEDs are the wise investment choice. Their life span means they will not need to be replaced for many years, they are cost-effective in the long term and they will contribute towards cutting crime in the UK.