Car Crime on the Rise in Stoughton: Residents Question Street Lighting Policy

Published on: 30 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 30 Nov, 2024

By Stella Kuchanny

Guildford’s Stoughton area is seeing a troubling increase in car-related crimes, raising concerns among residents about the impact of Surrey County Council’s Part Night Lighting strategy.

Under the policy, streetlights are turned off between 1am and 5am, a change made in the council’s effort to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. However, some believe the darkness is creating opportunities for opportunistic crime.

Anne Rouse

Anne Rouse, a Stoughton resident (and chair of Guildford Labour), shared her concerns after her quiet street experienced several theft attempts. “We’ve had people testing car doors, and three neighbours were victims of theft,” she said.

“I posted on Nextdoor to warn others and was shocked by how many streets in the area are also affected. It makes you wonder—why are we paying council taxes when basic safety services like lighting are being cut?”

Council Defends Lighting Strategy

But Surrey County Council has defended its Part Night Lighting strategy, which is under ongoing review. In response to Ms Rouse’s enquiry, Marc Zahra, Customer Liaison Officer at Milestone Infrastructure, noted that the council moved the switch-off time from midnight to 1am as part of their review but has no current plans for further changes.

“The strategy is monitored closely to ensure it remains effective,” Zahra explained. “Further alterations will only be made if formally requested by Surrey Police.”

Residents are encouraged to report concerns through Surrey Police’s StreetSafe tool, a reporting system designed to identify hotspot areas. Reports are reviewed by local borough police teams and discussed during Joint Action Group (JAG) meetings for potential action.

Balancing Safety and Sustainability

The debate highlights a challenging balance between sustainability goals and public safety. While reduced street lighting helps cut energy costs and emissions, some argue the policy may unintentionally compromise security.

Guildford locals are increasingly investing in private security measures such as door cameras and motion-activated lights. “While these are great tools, not everyone can afford them,” Rouse noted. “We shouldn’t have to rely on personal funds to make up for reduced public services.”

What’s Next?

With no immediate changes to the lighting strategy planned, residents like Rouse are left to hope for increased police monitoring and community vigilance. Meanwhile, the question remains: does the price of darkness outweigh the benefits of sustainability?

For those affected, reporting incidents to both Surrey Police and the StreetSafe tool remains a vital step in highlighting safety concerns.