East Lancashire school named in CCTV ‘watch’ listings

12:00pm Friday 14th September 2012 in News

AN EAST Lancashire school has been named as one of 207 in the UK using CCTV cameras in the toilets or changing rooms by a campaign group.

Richard Varey, head of Blessed Trinity RC College in Ormerod Road, Burnley, said the two cameras highlighted by ‘Big Brother Watch’ were not in the changing room/toilet areas.

He said they were positioned outside an arched entrance to view the handwashing basins in the boys’ and girls’ washrooms.

Another Lancashire secondary, Moor Park in Preston, is among 30 in the North West accused of having CCTV in toilets or changing rooms.

Mr Varey said: “The report is inaccurate. There are 32 cameras in school.

“There are none in toilets or changing rooms. The two that are mentioned are situated outside open archways into the boys’ and girls’ changing rooms and view the handwashing area only.

“They do not look into toilet cubicle or changing room areas and cannot be manipulated to do so.

“They have not been viewed since I came to the school after Easter. The only time I looked at CCTV footage was at the request of a pupil over an inc-ident in a corridor.

“The cameras are there to promote good behaviour, be available if requested by staff or pupils, and to film thieves or vandals who may come onto school premises.

“They can only be viewed by myself, my deputies and the assistant manager in charge of the system and are wiped automatically if the footage is not called for after a short time.”

John Ferris who is, the Lancashire County Council's building design boss, said: “Security and the safety of pupils are why schools have CCTV. The majority of secondary schools in Lancashire have these systems.

“In recently built schools, and following guidance from the Department for Education, central washroom areas are covered by cameras but never toilet cubicles and changing areas.”

Comments (9)

2:40pm Fri 14 Sep 12

midas says...

Who are Big Brother Watch and how much money is wasted answering their freedom of information questions?
Who are Big Brother Watch and how much money is wasted answering their freedom of information questions? midas

3:39pm Fri 14 Sep 12

DaveBurnley says...

midas wrote:
Who are Big Brother Watch and how much money is wasted answering their freedom of information questions?
Probably people who don't ever encounter the thieves and vandals who these security measures are designed to stop. If these security cameras help to protect people then no sane person should oppose their legitimate use.
[quote][p][bold]midas[/bold] wrote: Who are Big Brother Watch and how much money is wasted answering their freedom of information questions?[/p][/quote]Probably people who don't ever encounter the thieves and vandals who these security measures are designed to stop. If these security cameras help to protect people then no sane person should oppose their legitimate use. DaveBurnley

3:44pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Major Tom says...

if our children are to be safe they n us need to get used to having cctv. nothing to fear if you nothing to hide.
if our children are to be safe they n us need to get used to having cctv. nothing to fear if you nothing to hide. Major Tom

6:35pm Fri 14 Sep 12

midas says...

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58 wrote:
I personally find it very creepy to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room. Is the headmaster a paedophile?
They will be fixed cameras pointing at the door or the sinks, I would be very surprised if they were pointing to any area that should be private.
[quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: I personally find it very creepy to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room. Is the headmaster a paedophile?[/p][/quote]They will be fixed cameras pointing at the door or the sinks, I would be very surprised if they were pointing to any area that should be private. midas

7:07pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Chris P Bacon says...

Major Tom wrote:
if our children are to be safe they n us need to get used to having cctv. nothing to fear if you nothing to hide.
The dumbest quote oft bandied about by those who know nothing. You've got PLENTY to fear, especially if you've nothing to hide. If you've nothing to hide, why do they want to see what you're doing? It's not for YOUR benefit; it's for THEIR benefit and you won't gain security, you'll lose privacy.

Those who swap privacy for security end up with neither.
[quote][p][bold]Major Tom[/bold] wrote: if our children are to be safe they n us need to get used to having cctv. nothing to fear if you nothing to hide.[/p][/quote]The dumbest quote oft bandied about by those who know nothing. You've got PLENTY to fear, especially if you've nothing to hide. If you've nothing to hide, why do they want to see what you're doing? It's not for YOUR benefit; it's for THEIR benefit and you won't gain security, you'll lose privacy. Those who swap privacy for security end up with neither. Chris P Bacon

7:15pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

midas wrote:
Michael@ClitheroeSin

ce58 wrote:
I personally find it very creepy to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room. Is the headmaster a paedophile?
They will be fixed cameras pointing at the door or the sinks, I would be very surprised if they were pointing to any area that should be private.
So they say, but I still find it very creepy and I'm sure I'm not alone. Your not even allowed a camera in a swimming baths these days so to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room seems very wrong to me.
[quote][p][bold]midas[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: I personally find it very creepy to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room. Is the headmaster a paedophile?[/p][/quote]They will be fixed cameras pointing at the door or the sinks, I would be very surprised if they were pointing to any area that should be private.[/p][/quote]So they say, but I still find it very creepy and I'm sure I'm not alone. Your not even allowed a camera in a swimming baths these days so to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room seems very wrong to me. Michael@ClitheroeSince58

8:30am Sat 15 Sep 12

mys says...

I think it's a good idea,bullying goes on in the toilets more than anywhere else in schools,if it saves kids from bullying others then I say go for it,safeguarding all children is a must,and ask for all you idiots making comments about being filmed actually in the toilets while pupils are on the loo,get a life,no school would invade any pupils privacy to that extent,it's you that must have something to hide,this should have been done in schools years ago,if there's an incident happens at least there will be evidence, when I was at school bullying in the toilets was always going on and the bully's got away with it,there's children taking there own lifes because there bullied at school,so if by putting CCTV cameras in schools to catch the culprits then it could save a child's life and the bully's get caught.
I think it's a good idea,bullying goes on in the toilets more than anywhere else in schools,if it saves kids from bullying others then I say go for it,safeguarding all children is a must,and ask for all you idiots making comments about being filmed actually in the toilets while pupils are on the loo,get a life,no school would invade any pupils privacy to that extent,it's you that must have something to hide,this should have been done in schools years ago,if there's an incident happens at least there will be evidence, when I was at school bullying in the toilets was always going on and the bully's got away with it,there's children taking there own lifes because there bullied at school,so if by putting CCTV cameras in schools to catch the culprits then it could save a child's life and the bully's get caught. mys

8:37am Sat 15 Sep 12

mys says...

Michael@ClitheroeSin
ce58 wrote:
I personally find it very creepy to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room. Is the headmaster a paedophile?
No,I wouldn't say so but your a very small minded little man for even saying that,I take it you don't have children ? Well any decent parent that wants there child safe at school would approve of cctv it will stop thugs from bullying others,brats attacking teachers,vandalism etc etc,like the head as said there only viewed if there's need to view them.
[quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: I personally find it very creepy to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room. Is the headmaster a paedophile?[/p][/quote]No,I wouldn't say so but your a very small minded little man for even saying that,I take it you don't have children ? Well any decent parent that wants there child safe at school would approve of cctv it will stop thugs from bullying others,brats attacking teachers,vandalism etc etc,like the head as said there only viewed if there's need to view them. mys

11:04am Sat 15 Sep 12

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

mys wrote:
Michael@ClitheroeSin

ce58 wrote:
I personally find it very creepy to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room. Is the headmaster a paedophile?
No,I wouldn't say so but your a very small minded little man for even saying that,I take it you don't have children ? Well any decent parent that wants there child safe at school would approve of cctv it will stop thugs from bullying others,brats attacking teachers,vandalism etc etc,like the head as said there only viewed if there's need to view them.
Would 5 be enough for you? And as for small minded I think having teachers patrolling the children would be better than having a perverts charter camera. Also if you trust web cams etc let me tell you many can be accessed very easily on-line by anyone with just a few skills.
[quote][p][bold]mys[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Michael@ClitheroeSin ce58[/bold] wrote: I personally find it very creepy to have a camera anywhere near a children's toilet/changing room. Is the headmaster a paedophile?[/p][/quote]No,I wouldn't say so but your a very small minded little man for even saying that,I take it you don't have children ? Well any decent parent that wants there child safe at school would approve of cctv it will stop thugs from bullying others,brats attacking teachers,vandalism etc etc,like the head as said there only viewed if there's need to view them.[/p][/quote]Would 5 be enough for you? And as for small minded I think having teachers patrolling the children would be better than having a perverts charter camera. Also if you trust web cams etc let me tell you many can be accessed very easily on-line by anyone with just a few skills. Michael@ClitheroeSince58

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