AIBU to geeky uneasy about school installing CCTV in toilets?

[Doseofreality]

High school have sent a letter home tonight saying that they will be installing CCTV in a “blind spot” of one of the toilet blocks. The reasoning is that it will cut down on antisocial behaviour and vaping.

AIBU to find CCTV in school toilets creepy? I will be contacting the school to ask if the footage will be continuously monitored and also who will have access to it.

My main concern is that young girls will forget they are being recorded and May exit cubicles still adjusting clothes (we’ve all done it) or adjusting clothing whilst looking in the mirror etc. Pupils also sometimes use the toilets to change in and out of PE kits, during exam season, as the changing rooms are used as Additional examination rooms.

@Hankunamatata my daughter is the same. Makes me really sad that she feels that way but toilets at her school sound really awful. Mostly vaping and doors/locks that have been broken. I'd welcome this tbh

Does the school not have changing rooms? I can't see how they could have made this decision knowing that students use them to change.

Depends entirely where the camera is sited. The OP said in a blind spot.

Without knowing what the camera can and can't see it's impossible to judge.

I'd rather have my kids at a school where a member of staff could monitor the 'blind spot' than at a school where older kids congregate to vape, smoke and worse. I know which is most unsafe for my kids. And schools don't waste money on cctv - or the inevitable wrath of parents - unless they've tried everything else.

How many parents do you think have complained about 'nothing being done' about their child feeling intimidated by the groups congregating in that area.

As a pp said, no they won't be continuously monitored, but if vandalism or an incident occurs the footage will be viewed by the relevant staff only. At some point we have to make realistic assessments of risk. All adults in a school are DBS checked. You can never mitigate all risk but the incidence of vaping / bullying / vandalism in unmonitored spaces is super high along with attendant consequences of kids not eating or using the toilet out of fear, or toilets being locked. Weigh that against the v v small risk of footage of the sink area being viewed for the wrong reasons and I know which one comes out on top.

If it helps reduce bullying and vandalism in the loos then it's probably worth it.

It’s quite normal now in schools for the reason that a lot goes on. My DDs school toilets are open in that the cubicles are private but the sinks etc are open for all to view. Mainly the school need to make sure that kids aren’t changing in there any more