In UK Study, the Risk of Certain Types of Crime, but Not Others, Increase After Dark

Science proves crime really does rise when darkness falls

The overall risk of crime rises when darkness falls - but that risk varies depending on the type of crime and geographical area.

In UK study, the risk of certain types of crime, but not others, increase after dark

A UK study of data on more than 30,000 crimes sheds new light on crime after dark, suggesting that the overall risk of crime rises when darkness falls, but that risk varies depending on type of crime and geographical area. Jim Uttley of the University of Sheffield, UK, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One.

Does darkness increase the risk of certain types of crime? A registered report article

Evidence about the relationship between lighting and crime is mixed. Although a review of evidence found that improved road/ street lighting was associated with reductions in crime, these reductions occurred in daylight as well as after dark, suggesting any effect was not due only to changes in visual conditions. One limitation of previous studies is that crime data are reported in aggregate and thus previous analyses were required to make simpl…