Good lighting can be a help, poor lighting always compromises safety. Most crime actually occurs during the day, or inside buildings. However, we want the feeling and the reality of being safe outside at night. That does not mean putting in the brightest light we can find, blinding everyone in the area, creating light trespass, and lighting up the sky. Lighting by itself does not insure safety.
Quality lighting rather than poor lighting is essential for any real security.
This fixture was designed in the old days when energy was cheap, when there were no good lighting fixture designs, and when the adverse effects of bad lighting were not well appreciated. Much of the light output is wasted, going up or sideways where it does no good at all. It has a great deal of glare, often blinding the homeowner and others. It splatters light everywhere, alienating neighbors. It casts harsh shadows behind trees and buildings, allowing criminals plenty of dark areas to hide in.