Over the past fortnight, important conversations have been had about street safety across every facet of society.

Experiences have been shared among the young, the old, across political and social class divides, in villages and towns and cities country-wide. Among women and, crucially, among men.

Unfortunately, it took a tragedy to bring it about.

Last weekend, while walking close to my home in broad daylight, two men in a passing sports car shouted and whistled at me through the rolled-down window as they sped off at a set of lights.

While a little startled, I was fine, and went on with my day. But later that evening, I realised that just because this has become ‘normal’, it isn’t behaviour that I, or any women, should just accept. I also know that, had it happened in the evening, after dark, I would have felt ten times more vulnerable.

This week, I spoke with Andover councillor Iris Andersen about her fears for women walking home at night.

As a 74-year-old mother of six, with teenage grandchildren, her heartfelt plea to Hampshire County Council came from a place of genuine concern for both men and women, plunged into darkness at 1am. And she’s not alone.

The decision in 2019 to turn off street lights in residential areas between 1am and 4am was justified by the need to save energy. But, as Cllr Andersen pointed out, safety must come first.

In other parts of the world, solutions have been found. From auto-dimming street lights in Norway, which recognise when someone is passing by, to investment in solar-powered street lights, not dissimilar from those seen in many gardens, options are out there to have the best of both worlds - and now the government has pledged funding to do just that.

Hampshire County Council says it ‘welcomes’ Boris Johnson’s pledge to double the Safer Streets Fund in the wake of Sarah Everard’s death. But the people of Hampshire need to know, as Iris stressed, that its decision makers are ‘taking it seriously’. They need concrete commitments.

Let’s not wait until it’s too late.

Catriona Aitken, Reporter