CCTV cameras set for school toilets

Apr 14 2011 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

CCTV cameras will be installed in school toilets to keep an eye on unruly pupils.

The moves were approved by councillors to put the cameras in sink areas and changing rooms, if staff and parents support the plans.

Education bosses approved the policy and new set of guidelines for all West Lothian schools recently.

Originally they considered ditching CCTVs – which are already installed at Whitburn Academy and West Calder High – after receiving complaints, but instead gave the go-ahead in principle to have them in every school.

However, the possible introduction of cameras will be decided by each individual school.

SNP education chief, councillor Andrew Miller, explained: “Head teachers have stressed the value of CCTV in toilet areas to deter vandalism, smoking and other indisciplines they are also popular with the majority of pupils.

“When there’s a need to place cameras in sensitive areas, they will only be done so with the support of the school community.”

He added the moves complied with the Information Commissioner’s 2008 CCTV Code of Practice as well as the Secure by Designs Guidelines for Schools published by the Association of Chief Police Officers in 2010.

The CCTV footage will only be viewed when the school needs to look at an incident of vandalism or bullying and will be kept only for a short time before being disposed of.

Under the approved guidelines the cameras must be signposted and not concealed, and schools should regularly review their use.

One parent, who asked not to be named said she uses Whitburn Academy for social clubs and wasn’t impressed with the idea of cameras in the loos.

She said: “I hadn't heard about CCTV but that's a wee bit worrying. Next time I use Whitburn Academy I shall be checking the toilets the girls use, I’m not comfortable with the idea at all.

“I'm sure they tried to do that years ago, while I was at school but were prevented from doing it for some reason”

“It will be interesting to hear what the general view on this strange idea.”

Daniel Hamilton, director of Big Brother Watch, which monitors camera use in Britain, agreed, saying it was “an extremely worrying development”.

He said: “Any right-thinking person would conclude that monitoring school toilets with CCTV cameras is a gross invasion of children’s privacy.”