CCTV in school changing rooms

Big news story over here in the UK, is that over 200 schools have CCTV camera's in toilets and changing rooms. Do you think that this is a step too far or acceptable?


I think that SOME CCTV camera's should be in school areas like playgrounds, corridors and even classrooms, BUT, there is no way on this earth they should be allowed in toilets and changing rooms. The thought that someone is watching and recording me having a wee or poo, or getting undressed for PE and showered afterwards is repulsive, and a total infringement of my civil libities.

What are your thoughts on this?

News Story:


Shocking new research reveals that 100,000 cameras are being used to
spy on school pupils, with hundreds being used in children’s toilets and
changing rooms.

As a report by Big Brother Watch reveals the extent of school
surveillance, the watchdog questions what the footage is being used for
and warns that children’s privacy could be being exploited without their
parents’ knowledge.

The report of 2,000 schools across the UK found that 90% of all schools
and academies are using CCTV, with 200 schools using over 800 cameras
to spy on kids in changing rooms and toilets.

Whilst schools have hit back saying that surveillance is needed in all
common areas to keep students safe and prevent bullying, the watchdog
urged more schools to ‘come clean’ about why they’re using the cameras.

Nick Pickles, director of Big Brother Watch, said: "This research
raises serious questions about the privacy of schoolchildren across
Britain, with some schools having one camera for every five pupils and
hundreds of schools using cameras in toilets and changing rooms.

"The full extent of school surveillance is far higher than we had expected and will come as a shock to many parents.”

Whilst the average school has one camera for every 38 pupils – with
just under half being used inside rather than outside school buildings –
many have one camera for every 15 pupils and some use one camera for
every five pupils.

Whilst it’s no surprise that Big Brother is watching most of us and that CCTV can help keep us safe – are you shocked to learn that kids are being watched in places like changing rooms?


Source: http://www.ukmums.tv/hot-topics/thousands-of-schools-using-cctv-cameras-in-toilets-and-changing-rooms

This happened at um.. some college near me. the person was arrested. it's just wrong.

Skinny Love wrote:This happened at um.. some college near me. the person was arrested. it's just wrong.

That was probably done illegally, but this seems to be done legally? Unless the are a ton of fights say in the lockerrooms, thats one thing, but with no reason, is pretty distrubing.

Yeah, there's really no point for there to be cameras in the changing rooms... It's kinda creepy.

My school has a deliberate policy of avoiding closed circuit cameras in changing rooms, toilets and classrooms, limiting them to around corridors, external walls of the buildings and other such places. I am a opposer to CCTV in certain places throughout a school in all but exceptional cases - I believe that students and teachers ought not to have to be watched wherever they go around the school. I find this news that this is occurring legally in the UK to be quite shocking, as to me it represents a clear breach of privacy. I understand and support the need for cameras throughout the corridors of a school for the protection of staff and students, in order to prevent bullying and physical harassment, and in some 'more problematic' schools would say that it may be appropriate to have them in classrooms also. However, the only situation where I could really see it as acceptable in the context of changing rooms or toilets would be if serious assaults, such as knife crimes or bad beatings, were evidently taking place or at an unusually great risk of doing so in such places. The balance between privacy and safety is a delicate one, but here, I would rather sacrifice my safety for privacy.

This is just fucked up. Besides, isn't recording naked underage bodies a form of child porn? (it is where I live, I don't really know about the US.)