The Clocks Are Going Back: Time to Shine a Light on Home Security

As autumn settles in, the evenings are drawing in and this weekend brings one of the surest signs that winter is approaching: the clocks go back.

In the UK, the clocks go back one hour on Sunday 25 October 2026. At 2am British Summer Time, they return to 1am Greenwich Mean Time. That means an extra hour in bed for many of us, but it also means noticeably darker evenings from Sunday onwards. GOV.UK: When do the clocks change? confirms that the UK returns to GMT on the last Sunday in October each year. 

And while changing the clocks might seem little more than a twice-yearly ritual, there is an interesting history behind it.

Why Do We Change the Clocks?

The idea of making better use of daylight isn't new.

Benjamin Franklin famously raised the idea of making better use of morning daylight as far back as 1784. But in Britain it was William Willett, an enthusiastic horse rider, who became one of the great campaigners for changing the clocks. In 1907, he argued for moving the clocks forward during spring and summer rather than wasting the early morning daylight. Royal Observatory Greenwich records that Willett's original proposal was actually rather more complicated than today's system, suggesting clocks should be advanced in several 20-minute stages. 

Britain eventually introduced daylight saving in 1916, during the First World War. The basic principle has survived: we move onto British Summer Time during the lighter part of the year and return to Greenwich Mean Time as winter approaches. 

Today, the clocks go forward one hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March and go back one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October. 

An easy way to remember it is:

Spring forward, fall back.

Dark Evenings Put the Spotlight on Security

The return to GMT doesn't cause the shortening days, of course, but moving the clocks back makes the darker evenings suddenly much more noticeable.

That's also a useful reminder to take a look at the lighting around our homes.

Good exterior lighting isn't simply about producing as much light as possible. Its purpose is to illuminate entrances, paths and vulnerable areas, help people move around safely, and make it more difficult for somebody to approach a property unnoticed.

Avon and Somerset Police advises that lighting can act as a deterrent and recommends it particularly around entrances and exits. The force notes that a dark house can give the impression that nobody is home, while security and timer-controlled lighting can create an impression of occupancy and increase an intruder's risk of being seen. 

Good Security Lighting Doesn't Have to Mean Brighter Lighting

It is easy to assume that the biggest, brightest floodlight provides the best security. In reality, thoughtful positioning and control are just as important as brightness.

The official police security initiative Secured by Design publishes specific guidance on exterior lighting to help combat crime, fear of crime and antisocial behaviour.

Options for the home include:

• Dusk-to-dawn lighting, which switches on automatically as daylight fades.
• PIR motion-sensor lighting, activated when movement is detected.
• LED exterior lighting, which provides an energy-efficient option for longer operating periods.
• Timer-controlled indoor lights when you're away, helping a home appear occupied.
• Lighting around front and back doors, garages, paths and entrances, where visibility is particularly valuable.

Avon and Somerset Police specifically suggests considering dusk-to-dawn lighting providing a constant low white light. It also recommends positioning exterior lights carefully to avoid causing unnecessary light pollution for neighbours.

Likewise, ProtectUK says well-thought-out lighting can discourage intruders and give the impression that good security measures are in place. Its guidance highlights dusk-to-dawn lighting controlled by a photo-electric cell as one possible approach. 

The important point is that security lighting should be well designed rather than simply excessively bright.

A Good Weekend to Check Your Outside Lights

So, when you're changing those clocks that don't update themselves this weekend, why not spend a few minutes checking your exterior lighting too?

Walk around your property after dark and look at the areas around doors, paths, garages and side entrances. Check that existing fittings are working, sensors are operating properly and vegetation isn't blocking the light.

Trees and plants can gradually obscure exterior lighting, something Avon and Somerset Police specifically recommends checking. 

And don't forget your indoor lighting. If you're regularly arriving home after dark or you're away during the evening, a simple timer can help give the impression that someone is home. 

Turn Back the Clocks, Turn On the Lights

The changing of the clocks has been part of British life for more than a century. Whether we love that extra hour in bed or mourn the loss of our lighter evenings, Sunday 25 October marks the return to GMT and the unmistakable arrival of darker autumn evenings. 

It's therefore the perfect time to think about the lighting around our homes.

Good outdoor lighting can make paths and entrances safer, make arriving home on a dark evening more welcoming and, crucially, help make our properties less attractive to anyone hoping to remain unseen.

So this weekend, remember:

Turn the clocks back. Check your outside lights. Light up the dark.