CRIME generally isn’t going up in blacked out parts of Dorset, police say.

Dorset Police have announced that early research shows no link to increases in crime as a result of lights being switched off in selected areas.

In some areas of Dorset, street lights are now switched off between 1am and 6.30am in the summer and midnight to 5.30am in winter.

The exception is at Littlemoor in Weymouth where residents successfully mounted a campaign to have street lights switched back on at night amid concerns.

Dorset County Council agreed the U-turn after it was argued crime had increased on the estate.

Resident Jan Hinton, 56, said: “There was an increase in crime when the street lights were switched off and this is what prompted the police to appeal to the county council and back our campaign.

“Our concern was that switching off the street lights caused the fear of crime in the community and residents did not feel safe, as opposed to the actual link between the switched off lights and crime levels.”

The county council agreed to a programme of part-night street lighting as part of its plans to save £55m over three years.

It was first trialled in rural villages before it was decided in February 2011 to roll it out to residential streets.

Deputy Chief Constable of Dorset Police James Vaughan said: “We take the concerns of our communities very seriously.

“We have worked together with Dorset County Council to closely monitor the areas where street lights have been switched off in case of any changes in crime levels.

“I’m pleased to say that we have found there has been no link to an increase in crime, which I hope will offer some reassurance to residents.

“We do understand that people can feel less safe when street lights are off.

“Dorset County Council has agreed to reconsider street lighting in cases where crime is seen to increase or where there are local crime and disorder issues that need particular focus.”

Hilary Cox, Dorset County Council’s cabinet member for environment, added: “We welcome the evidence from the police about our part-night lighting programme.

“It is reassuring that the scheme, which does make savings, has not caused an increase in crime. The scheme has been strongly supported by those who want to reduce the amount of light pollution in our night skies.”