A school in northern Sweden dramatically reduced vandalism costs after installing security cameras. Damage expenses dropped from 300,000 kronor ($28,000) in 2022 to just 60,000 kronor ($5,600) in 2023.
Principal Elisabeth Landström said the cameras made a major difference. "We saw a sharp decrease in vandalism when cameras were installed," she stated. "These are important funds we can use for other purposes."
The cameras are now turned off pending approval. This fall alone, 35 incidents were documented including several cases of harassment.
Landström expressed concern about the current situation. "It's worrying. Many other schools in Luleå want camera surveillance but haven't received permission," she explained. "The application process is complicated and difficult to get approved."
The local education committee will decide on November 12 whether the school can reactivate its cameras.
"Our school is large with many corners," Landström noted. "We can't monitor everywhere. We hope to turn the cameras back on as they're an important complement to our safety work."
School security measures remain controversial in Sweden where surveillance often faces privacy concerns. The dramatic cost reduction suggests cameras effectively deterred vandalism, but the ongoing debate highlights the balance between security and privacy in Swedish schools.