Philly Police Announce SafeCam Initiative

The Philadelphia Police Department has announced a new initiative to combat crime called SafeCam.

The public-private partnership allows residents and businesses to register their home security cameras with the department in a public-private partnership that authorities hope will benefit both officers and residents.

As a part of the program, residents register their contact information and camera type and location online with the police, who will alert them if a crime occurs in the vicinity of the registered camera.

Investigators will then canvass the area of the crime to see if anyone caught any clues on tape. Mapping out a network of surveillance cameras will help the authorities to locate footage more quickly.

But those who put a high priority on privacy needn’t worry: the police will not be able to view the camera footage without owners’ consent, but merely the cameras’ physical location on a map.

Residents can register here; everything is free and all information is confidential.