Geoff Lister Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 I have just received this in a Neighbourhood Watch circular, including advice from my local police force's Crime Reduction Officer:- "Review your exterior lighting (burglars do not like lights). If you currently use high wattage conventional lighting, think about switching to LED ‘dusk till dawn’ units. Bear in mind that bright lights create dark shadows, shadows that somebody can hide in. LED lights are very reliable and very cheap to run at about 1p a day. It will depend on the situation but in the majority of locations we now recommend ‘dusk till dawn’ lighting over reactive lighting." I, like most of my neighbours, have the 300/500W, or equivalent, motion-triggered (in)security lights. These come on for up to a couple of minutes as a cat or hedgehog passes through the gardens, but most of the time they are off. I observe from the patio to the rear of my house, in an area where the local houses shield me from the various street lights. If my neighbours adopt "dusk 'till dawn" lights, it is unlikely that I will have any shaded area that has a decent view of the night sky. Has anyone else received similar advice from their local constabulary? Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spillage Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 I would forward or scan a copy to the dark skies commission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 No advice like it but my neighbours already have them and hey (lights) are a damned nuisance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveS Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Seen something similar in neighbourhood watch leaflets. If burglars don't have light how they gonna see? It's the old monkey fear of nocturnal predators, of which the only ones around here have no better senses than anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Lister Posted September 27, 2017 Author Share Posted September 27, 2017 38 minutes ago, spillage said: I would forward or scan a copy to the dark skies commission. I tried, but I found that their web site contact form did not have an attachment facility. I tried to use their form, but I am not conviced that the message, including a link to the document, got through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbo! Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 We got one from the local councillor saying the same thing. When I pointed out that studies say the opposite he asked why the local kids congretate outside the local Co-op and the comunity centre I pointed out thats where the lights are . he did not get back to me after that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spillage Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 They do have a facebook and twitter page. I bet the local plod have one to. But you know what I think we are all wrong. We should all leave a light on for the local burglar at night time. You do know if the burglar trips over those things left in your garden in the dark you will get sued. So light on door open and a plate of biscuits left out. After all the local law breakers have more rights than us so our hobbies must always come second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Drew Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Another plus for solar astronomy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 22 minutes ago, spillage said: They do have a facebook and twitter page. I bet the local plod have one to. But you know what I think we are all wrong. We should all leave a light on for the local burglar at night time. You do know if the burglar trips over those things left in your garden in the dark you will get sued. So light on door open and a plate of biscuits left out. After all the local law breakers have more rights than us so our hobbies must always come second. That is a sad reflection on where we are as a society; however the burglar would only be protected if you left things to deliberately hurt them such as a man trap, razor wire or a covered hole or the like. 15 minutes ago, Peter Drew said: Another plus for solar astronomy! Indeed it is Peter, warmer too most of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 44 minutes ago, Ibbo! said: We got one from the local councillor saying the same thing. When I pointed out that studies say the opposite he asked why the local kids congretate outside the local Co-op and the comunity centre I pointed out thats where the lights are . he did not get back to me after that That made me laugh, typical local councillor type of comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beulah Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 24 minutes ago, Peter Drew said: Another plus for solar astronomy! Betchya half glass full kinda guy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbo! Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 42 minutes ago, Alan White said: That is a sad reflection on where we are as a society; however the burglar would only be protected if you left things to deliberately hurt them such as a man trap, razor wire or a covered hole or the like. Indeed it is Peter, warmer too most of the year. most yes - but I can remember togging up quite a bit while grabbing some winter sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 11 minutes ago, Ibbo! said: I can remember togging up quite a bit while grabbing some winter sun. So can I, far too often on a winters afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargazer33 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 It's like shops and offices leaving all their lights on over night. If you see someone in the building then you assume they have authority to be there. If the lights were turned off then chummy would have to use a torch and that would draw attention to themselves. Same with people's gardens. As mentioned earlier, studies have shown that chummy loves light because it means they can see what they are doing and exactly what you've got! The police are always saying that the perception of crime is far higher that the actual amount and then they send out paranoid propaganda like this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlight 1 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 I would say back in the 60s someone up to no good would have a torch , not today with IR LED rings rounds your phone you can see all and no one can see you in the dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JG777 Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 What with dawn to dusk LEDs and the low cost I would say the battle against lights in towns and cities is well and truly lost or soon will be. Best thing is to find a dark site within a reasonable distance from home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterCPC Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 We can't all do that unfortunately. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 A couple of weeks ago, one of the national rags had a centre-page spread showing how to make "your garden glow" at night. Every nook and cranny of your garden should be lit up like a Christmas tree. What chance have we skywatchers when the press encourages this level of nocturnal philistinism? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterCPC Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Look at the garden makeover programmes on the TV - almost without exception they suggest external lighting. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piero Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I find all this thing about lights in the garden very stupid. Nevertheless, I can accept if one wants to illuminate his/her own garden. What I don't is when the lights of this neighbour broadly illuminates at least 4-5 other gardens! Aside from this burglar paranoia, these lights should have a lateral shield so that their illumination is restricted to one specific area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyingpig Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Not that it causes me any observing issue but I don’t really get the solar lights that people stick in grave yards either - what’s the point in that??? Seems there is a culture to light up just about everything these days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niallk Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I used to be able to happily observe DSOs from my back garden, now I can't. I have to hop in the car, but I am fortunate at least to have a reasonable spot 15mins away. I used to be able to pop out the back with my 10" dob while still being around to mind the kids if they wake up. Local street and insecurity lights have put an end to it unfortunately. At least I gain a good southern horizon when I drive down to the coast. Just can't get out as often now. +1 for solar observing - although I still have to shut out the ambient light for Ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 If you were up to no good would you go about at night when houses are likely to full or in the daytime when the opposite is true? I'd get the Daily Mail on the case, remind people that light at night is in the same category as passive smoking when it comes to cancer... not to mention the effect on wildlife... what's left of it. PEterW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdeKing Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 On 27/09/2017 at 15:57, Geoff Lister said: I tried, but I found that their web site contact form did not have an attachment facility. I tried to use their form, but I am not conviced that the message, including a link to the document, got through. I've forwarded a link to this thread to a CfDS member who belongs to my local astro group. I'll speak to him at the astro meeting on Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N3ptune Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 I think the goal is to install an exterior fixture with a design that will focus the light on the ground only. "No light should be emitted above the horizontal light source plane." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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