For headteachers in England and Wales, the question of whether to install CCTV or not is gaining increased attention amid a number of high profile crimes committed on school grounds.
School leaders may be considering upgrading site security but that must be balanced with the right to privacy and safeguarding issues.
While there is no UK law that states CCTV is mandatory in UK schools, the benefits of round-the-clock surveillance are compelling.
Equally, there are legitimate concerns around its integration into a school context which must be carefully considered.
As budgets are increasingly tightened, and safeguarding responsibilities remain evergreen, headteachers everywhere may be pondering what the right course of action is.
This guide serves to help those in charge of school security make correct, well-informed decisions.
Advantages of installing CCTV in UK schools
Schools, much like any public sector or commercial premises, face a range of threats and risks, from thefts, break-ins and vandalism to bullying, harassment and on-site antisocial behaviour (drugs, smoking, alcohol and so on). Considering these threats, there are plenty of reasons to consider installing CCTV in your school.
- Improves safety: When incidents like the above happen, it can have a profound effect on pupils, teachers and even parents. Violence against teaching staff is, worryingly, on the rise, with recent NASUWT statistics suggesting that 25% of surveyed teachers experienced pupil violence once a term. Surveillance equipment in corridors, classrooms, and communal areas inside and outside can provide reassurance, while addressing bullying, violence or harassment concerns, by preventing them from escalating.
- Property protection: When schools are vacant for extended periods (e.g. half terms, holidays and long weekends), they become attractive targets for trespassers and opportunistic thieves. The financial effect of property damage can be profound, and schools, already facing stretched educational budgets, don’t want to deal with the reparation costs of damage. Vacant property CCTV has proven effective at deterring criminals and providing valuable evidence in police investigations and insurance claims.
- Spotting illegal activity: Modern CCTV cameras can be deployed with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology to monitor and track vehicle access, helping to identify and prevent unauthorised visitors or known individuals of concern. Some schools face mounting issues where drugs and alcohol are repeatedly consumed on premises, or persistent vandalism, and CCTV can form part of a multi-layered safeguarding and security strategy.
Considerations of CCTV in schools
Despite the aforementioned benefits, legitimate and justified concerns do persist when considering the integration of CCTV.
- Invasion of privacy: Some pupils (and even staff) may exercise concern at CCTV and how being constantly surveilled affects both the school environment and their day-to-day experience. Some students may not feel comfortable at the idea of being constantly monitored, while parents may object and feel that continuous surveillance infringes upon their children’s privacy. Schools must balance security needs while cultivating an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.
- Compliance hoops to jump through: The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) provides clear guidance on what schools must do when integrating surveillance systems. Reasons must be legitimate, based on valid privacy assessments, and GDPR compliant. This involves extensive policy creation, where all stakeholders must be informed about CCTV purposes, locations, and data handling and reporting protocols. Non-compliance can be costly, both to the school’s finances and reputation.
- Upfront costs: A large-scale, best-in-class CCTV system isn’t cheap to install, and requires a substantial capital investment. Not only that, but schools must factor in ongoing maintenance, repairs, data storage, and testing costs must also be factored into next year’s budget. Schools already facing financial constraints may find it difficult to justify such expenditure against other educational priorities.
- Poor quality is noticeable: Even though an affordable CCTV system may seem enticing when budgets are stretched, often, this translates into poor quality systems. Grainy image resolution, unreliable storage, and cheaper hardware don’t always offer the same level of reassurance that a quality system provides.
- Not 100% full-proof: CCTV is never going to prevent every single incident that takes place. Even though it’s a solid deterrent, determined criminals will seize the opportunity if it arises even when cameras are present. Monitoring allows you to spot and tackle threats in real-time, but, understandably, this comes at a premium cost.
How to decide which is the right option for your school
For headteachers grappling with the decision of whether to integrate CCTV or not, several pertinent questions remain:
- Does your school face security issues that cameras could help address?
- Would stakeholders (governors, staff, parents, and, most importantly, pupils) be on board with the idea?
- Can you comfortably and reliably demonstrate GDPR compliance in line with the ICO’s recommendations?
- Would it help solve behavioural issues that, by extension, could be easily communicated to parents?
- What would the total cost of ownership be? Consider the ongoing expenses and add-ons that would be befitting of a system as comprehensive as one you feel you need.
- Are there any complementary or alternative measures? CCTV may not work well in isolation, so consider other factors like access control, lighting, infrastructure improvements, and so on.
The issue of CCTV’s place in schools is not an abundantly positive or negative situation. It’s a discussion point that many feel strongly about, based on their individual experiences or circumstances. As a safeguarding issue, it’s not a decision to be taken lightly.
For schools facing numerous security challenges or safety concerns, professional, high-quality CCTV systems can be truly effective at reducing the severity and frequency of incidents. However, they must be carefully considered and budgeted for, and schools must be prepared to comply with stringent guidelines if they consider CCTV worthwhile.
