THE Broadcast wishes to retract a statement made in last week s article on street lights in Dunmow. In the story we stated a massive rise in crime has been recorded . In fact, figures indicate that has actually been a substantial fall in crime, particula

THE Broadcast wishes to retract a statement made in last week's article on street lights in Dunmow.

In the story we stated "a massive rise in crime has been recorded". In fact, figures indicate that has actually been a substantial fall in crime, particularly in the hours the street lights have been switched off.

Official figures from Essex Police state that crimes in the town have nearly halved since the scheme began, 58 in April to May 2007, compared to 39 from April to May 2008.

A spokesman from Essex County Council said: "There has been much uninformed speculation that crime has risen since a part night street lighting trial has been operating and Essex County Council would like to point out that in fact the opposite appears to have been true.

"In fact, based on preliminary figures from Essex Police, from September last year (when the trial began) Uttlesford District has seen a substantial fall in crime during the hours the street lights have been switched off (midnight to 5am), opposed to a slight increase during other times.

"In Great Dunmow, one of the areas mentioned in recent press coverage, during the hours part street lighting has been operating overall crime has fallen with another substantial fall between the hours of 12am and 5am and overall crime at all times in the town has also fallen.

"This street lighting trial is being carried out following positive feedback from residents and in order to reduce our impact on the environment and similar examples have been successfully tried in other parts of the country.

"These latest crime statistics will be fully reviewed when the part night trial comes to an end."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "The county is a very safe one and recorded crime figures for Dunmow and Saffron Walden between the hours of 11.30pm and 5.30am have borne this out.

"A year on year comparison for April 2006 to May 2007 and April 2007 to May 2008 has shown that night-time crime has almost halved in Saffron Walden and reduced by over a third in Dunmow.

"One of the factors raised by Essex Police following consultation with Essex County Council about the street lighting initiative was the fear of crime which must not be underestimated.

"This has recently been highlighted by residents in Dunmow who have sent a petition to the council signed by 39 residents who all feel that their safety is under threat.

"Essex Police is broadly supportive of the street lighting initiative. Where there are specific areas of concern in respect of public safety Essex Police will engage in discussions with the council."

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