Lambeth Council has not ruled out introducing more CCTV cameras in schools as new statistics show incidents of violent crime increased in last year.
A Freedom of Information (FoI) request showed incidents of violence against the person in the borough’s schools increased from 72 in 2007, to 86 in 2008.
Other serious violent incidents included one rape and five other sexual offences.
Critics said more police involvement with schools was required to reduce violent crime, with a greater presence from safer neighbourhood teams on school premises.
Crime in general fell in schools from 306 incidents to 278, with thefts dropping from 137 to 106.
But the police and Lambeth Council argued a series of engagement schemes were in place which were reducing crime across the board, including increased after school patrols to protect pupils on their way home.
Statistics so far this year show 98 crimes overall, with 34 incidents of violence against the person.
Some 100 cameras have been controversially installed at Stockwell Park High in Lambeth to deter crime and help provide evidence if harmful claims of misconduct are made.
Lambeth Council said it would not rule out more cameras, but said CCTV was usually installed to safeguard and protect pupils and staff rather than prevent crime among pupils.
Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Streatham, Chris Nicholson, said he felt efforts to make schools feel safer places were failing.
He said: “More work needs to be done with safer neighbourhoods officers spending more time stationed in schools. Visits from safer schools police officers is not enough.”
Yet he echoed the sentiments of Lambeth Council’s Young And Safe plan, with early-intervention and mentoring from a young age the key to stopping people going into crime, and causing trouble at school.
Mr Nicholson said introducing CCTV was an “extreme solution”, but more had to be done to catch people responsible for crimes.
Just 29 of the incidents in schools last year saw action taken against those responsible, including formal cautions.
Six allegations were made against Lambeth teachers last year, including three of sexual misconduct.
Four allegations of violent misconduct were made against headteachers, none of which were substantiated.
A Lambeth council spokeswoman said it was important to stress only a very small number of children and young people get involved in crime within schools and whenever they do schools follow robust procedures and work closely with the police.
She said: “Ofsted has found behaviour in most Lambeth schools to be good or outstanding and all schools run programmes to promote and reinforce good behaviour. We also work with schools and the police to create positive and safe learning environments.”
Junior Citizens, Secondary Citizens, knife crime education programmes, and anti-gang campaign Kickz are among the programmes run by police and the council in schools.
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