PHILADELPHIA – According to a report released Jan. 19, serious infractions involving Philadelphia School District students dropped more than 10 percent for the first four months of the school year. District officials attribute the decrease to the installation of hundreds of security cameras throughout the district.
From September to December 2005, there were 307 fewer offences (2,604) reported than in the same period for 2004 (2,911). The crimes counted include assaults, drug and alcohol offenses, abductions, attempted abductions, fires, morals offenses, robberies and weapons offenses.
The district’s Chief Executive Paul Vallas says the installation of more than 900 surveillance cameras helped the schools cut down on crime. The cameras were installed in 60 of the district’s highest-risk campuses.
