cameras in school toilets

[davidardill]

not sure what category this goes under, but i thought parents might have a view on it that will help me...

i recently found out that the local school has installed CCTV cameras in their toilets and are insisting that it is not illegal as there is signage to inform users. while there may well be a legal loophole, what are the moral implications of this, specially considering the curent climate of paedophilia and  accounts of teacher-student relations being publicised in the press?

i am not a parent, i only left the same school myself a matter of years ago, but it is a cause for concern that schools can do this kind of thing. any suggestions?

[GuavaHalf]

It rather depends where the cameras are pointing. It is an unfortunate fact of life that schools are not as safe as we would like them to be and surveilence is required. I am sure that if the cameras are properly placed there would be nothing to interest a paedophile.

[pompomfairy]

they have just installed cameras in the toilets at my skool but they are only in the girls toilets and none in the boys, i think this is real unfair because they say the cameras dont move but i swear when your in the loo they move loadz of us have seen them doo it so none uses the last 3 toilets on the end i think this is an invation of privacy at my skool

[nfn]

what purpose would a camera in a toilet serve? If the school claims it is fixed and only pointing at the sinks then surely any misdemeanours can be transferred to the cubicles. If the cubicles are to be filmed then I am pretty sure that this is an infringement of basic human rights and I would certainly remove my son from the school IMMEDIATELY as, I am sure, would most other parents.

If I were you davidardill I would contact the local press and ask them to investigate this futher. It sounds to me like the board of governors has gone too far on this one

[Lore]

School toilets are a great area for bullying to take place - maybe there has been several cases of this in this particular school, In the school I work for we now have a record book for those who need to attend the toilets during lesson times due to the amount of damage being caused by children stuffing coats down toilets, graffiti plus damage to displays outside the toilet areas. I'm not convinced CCTV is the answer but steps need to be taken to put a stop to this unwanted behaviour.

[pixi]

there are cameras in the toilets at my sons school and signage too,  i am not sure  where the cameras are pointing but i do strongly feel that this is wrong

[Lillabet]

If the cameras don't cover the cubicles themselves then there is very little to complain about if there is already cctv elsewhere in the school that you are ok about.

If they cover the cubicles then I would regard that as an invasion of the pupils right to privacy (which is a right under the human rights act) and would complain in the strongest possible terms that such filming is illegal.

If you have concerns then I would write politely to the head and simply ask to be shown the cctv control room and have it demonstrated to you precisely what is being filmed and what can be recorded. If it did include the cubicles then I would make a complaint via the police that indecent images of children were being made.

Theres a balance that is very difficult to strike and toilets are often the site for bullying / smoking and other school rule breaking behaviour but one should be able to use the lavatory without fear of being overseen.

[Otrere]

As others have said, it depends where they are pointing, but I really do feel that this is wrong and an invasion of privacy. In fact, the more I think about it the more appalling I think it is.

[sam82]

im studying a course at college and we are currently doing a module on law, which covers human rights, i am sure our law lecturer said this was a breach of human rights... maybe speaking to someone that is legally qualified would maybe help even the citizens advice... as until people put a stand to this it can continue.

only an idea...