Street lights DO make us safer, says minister (so why are councils switching them off at midnight?)

Rosie Winterton's comments came less than 24 hours after the Daily Mail revealed that councils across Britain are switching off lights to save money.

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The Transport Ministry believes that good lighting creates 'happier communities'

While roads are being left in darkness after midnight, Mrs Winterton's Transport Ministry released a statement that talked of good lighting creating "happier communities".

In direct contrast to the switch-off trials across the South of England, Mrs Winterton said: "Experience shows that better street lighting helps improve road safety, as well as reducing crime and the fear of crime.

"It is also helps create happier and healthier local communities by promoting social inclusion and more sustainable patterns of transport by encouraging people to cycle and walk."

Rosie Winterton: Transport minister says street lights 'cut crime'

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: "There is an irony that on the day that it is exposed that many councils are switching off street lights, the transport minister is telling us that they improve safety and reduce the fear of crime.

"It appears that many local authorities could learn from listening to the minister."

Mrs Winterton's comments were welcomed by motoring groups and crime charities which said the blackouts increased road accidents and crime.

Over the last few months, tens of thousands of street lamps have gone out after midnight, mostly in middle class, suburban areas.

In Hampshire 1,000 residents in Romsey are being left in the dark after midnight while similar trials have started in Gloucestershire, Essex and West Sussex.

Ironically, Hampshire and West Sussex are to get £225million to upgrade 165,000 street lights over the next 25 years, though the new lamps could be designed specifically to go out between midnight and dawn.

Councils claim there is no evidence that street lights prevent crime or road accidents and that the sacrifice is needed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

But Steven Gauge, chief executive of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: "Plunging suburbs back into the Dark Ages quite clearly puts residents at greater risk and increases their fear of crime, making them afraid to go our after dark."

Other critics said town halls should cut lighting in public buildings and enclosed car parks at night, before turning out street lights in suburban areas.