Street lights to be turned off in a bid to save energy

TALLINN 's Police officialssay that if local authorities in Tallinn go ahead with a cost-cutting plan toswitch off streetlights in night hours the efficiency of surveillance cameraswould be reduced.

"There are many surveillance cameras in the city whose efficiency isbound to suffer if the streets in their field of sight are dark," head ofthe public order maintenance division of the North prefecture Kristian Jaanitold BNS.

Cameras have been installed in many parts of the city where street lightingis the only source of light, he said. "Without sufficient lighting we cansee a crime being committed but not the faces of the persons, things taken awayduring the assault, weapons used to threaten and other necessary details whichthe camera may capture, in other words, subsequent proving (of the crime) maysuffer," he explained.

Many crimes are committed between 3 and 5 a.m., Jaani said. "But at thesame time we cannot say that reduction of street lighting will directly causean increase in crime rates because this depends on the area and the kinds ofcrime prevailing there," Jaani continued.

For many years, the police have worked in cooperation with the municipalauthorities to have lighting in as many streets, courtyards, parks and otherpublic places as possible, Jaani said. "Experience has shown that when apreviously unlit area receives streetlights, the number of certain types ofcrime, such as theft from cars, falls off," he explained.

In his words, the possibility of anonymity is an important consideration forthieves in picking the object and lighting plays an important role in this.

The Tallinn authorities have said that switching off street lighting atnight is under consideration as a way to save costs. However, the finaldecision has not yet been made and so far only trial switch-offs have been conducted.