Unisys Corp of Blue Bell, Pa., and the city of Philadelphia have reached an agreement to install 250 video surveillance cameras throughout the city.
Unisys will provide and maintain the cameras, network, software and hardware. The city is expected to pay about $8.9 million for the first year of the contract, the Philadelphia Business Journalreported. Philadelphia police will determine the placement of the cameras based on areas of high crime.
The city saw a 37 percent decrease in violent crimes after installing 18 surveillance cameras last year. Eight of those locations experienced an 8.4 percent decline after cameras were installed, according to a report in the journal.
“Deploying video cameras as part of our overall crime-fighting strategy is a great example of using modern technology to enhance public safety and improve services to our citizens,” says Mayor John F. Street.
Unisys is expected to begin installation of the surveillance cameras within in early November.
