The latest data shows at least 100,000 cameras are being used in schools across Britain - accounting for 90% of secondary schools.
A survey carried out by National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) showed that 1 in 12 teachers said that CCTV was in operation in the classrooms of their school. Two-thirds of those teachers believed the cameras were helpful for pupil safety, 31% said they were useful for monitoring behaviour standards and a further 15% said they could be used to improve teaching standards.
CCTV and other surveillance solutions should always be used responsibly. Here are a few legislations you should be adhering to at your school:
Notify the Information Commissioner
First of all, you must let the Information Commissioner know you plan to install CCTV or any other surveillance equipment. You should also tell them why you intend to install CCTV in your school including the purpose and how you intend to use the recorded data. The Information Commissioner oversees all protection of personal information in the UK. You’re required to renew the notification every year, as well as let them know about any changes you intend to make with your existing video surveillance system. The use of your CCTV can be affected by statutory legislation such as the Data Protection Act 1998, Human Rights Act 1998 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
Data Protection Act 1998
The Data Protection Act 1998 includes eight enforceable statements that must be followed at all times. They are as follows:
- Personal data shall be processed fairly and lawfully
- Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes
- Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive
- Personal data shall be accurate and where necessary, kept up to date
- Personal data processed for any purpose shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose or those purposes
- Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects under the Data Protection Act 1998
- Personal data shall be kept secure i.e. protected by an appropriate degree of security
- Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area, unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of data protection. General Statement
Human Rights Act 1998
Article 8 of the European Charter on Human Rights states:
1. Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.
2. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic wellbeing of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others
Any disclosure of information should only be made by the CCTV operator in the school grounds - and that’s in the event of a request of information for a court order or information access rights. Once any information from the CCTV has been passed to the police, it is their responsibility to also follow the Human Rights Act.
Now you know the rules and regulations of fitting a new CCTV surveillance system in your school - take a look at what we have to offer at Gaia Security.
