In the wake of the tragic murder of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman who was abducted and killed while walking home in south London, the United Kingdom has announced plans to increase spending on street lighting. This move is part of a broader effort to improve safety for women and girls in public spaces, which has become a prominent issue following Everard’s death.
Everard’s murder has sparked widespread outrage and protests across the UK, with many women sharing their own experiences of feeling unsafe in public spaces. The incident has also led to calls for greater action from the government and police to address violence against women and girls.
One of the measures being taken in response to these calls is an increase in spending on street lighting. The UK government has announced a £25 million fund to support local authorities in improving lighting in public areas. This will be in addition to the £20 million already committed by the government to pilot schemes aimed at reducing violence against women and girls.
The decision to increase spending on street lighting has been welcomed by campaigners, who argue that better lighting can make a significant difference to how safe people feel in public spaces. Poor lighting can create areas that are dark and intimidating, making people more vulnerable to attack. Improved lighting can help to make these spaces more visible and reduce the risk of crime.
There is evidence to support the idea that better lighting can help to reduce crime. A study by the UK’s Home Office found that improvements to lighting in public spaces led to a reduction in crime of up to 21%. Similarly, a study by the British Crime Survey found that 90% of people felt safer in areas that were well-lit.
However, there are also concerns that simply increasing spending on street lighting may not be enough to address the root causes of violence against women and girls. Campaigners argue that a broader range of measures is needed to tackle this issue, including better education on consent and healthy relationships, stronger enforcement of existing laws, and more support for victims of violence.
Despite these concerns, the decision to increase spending on street lighting is an important step towards making public spaces safer for everyone. By making areas more visible and reducing the risk of crime, improved lighting can help to create a safer environment for all members of the community.
It remains to be seen how effective this measure will be in reducing violence against women and girls, but it is a positive move towards addressing a problem that has long been ignored. As the UK continues to grapple with the aftermath of Sarah Everard’s murder, it is clear that there is a growing determination to take action and create a society where everyone feels safe in public spaces.