Security cameras should be installed outside school gates, says MP

10:38am Thursday 25th October 2007

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Headteachers have been urged to install security cameras outside their school gates to help prevent bullying and fighting.

Celia Barlow, Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, said schools should use some of the cash allocated for investment in buildings to boost student safety.

The MP said every school in her constituency already had "controlled entry systems", allowing staff to prevent unwanted visitors.

But she complained that schools sometimes acted as if their interest in their pupils' welfare ended as soon as they crossed the threshold of the school gate.

Ms Barlow said the installation of CCTV cameras to watch over school entrances and surrounding areas would help prevent some of the bullying that took place during lunch breaks or outside of school hours.

Last month it was reported that a secondary school in Essex was successfully using a network of 100 digital cameras to nip bullying and bad behaviour in the bud.

The 1,800-strong Chalvedon School, in Pitsea, was also reported to be considering the use of iris recognition and fingerprinting to make sure students were in classes when they should be.

Ms Barlow said she did not support the installation of swipe-cards or other controlled-entry systems as general practice but believed CCTV could "help a lot".

She said: "This is about children being bullied out of school. It is outside the school gates where children are going to be attacked.

"Bullying is a real problem, and can be a complete blot on a child's life. Some people are so terrified they are frightened to come to school.

"We need to ensure that the safe environment for students goes beyond the school gates. CCTV would help a lot."

Rather than writing off bullying outside school as a matter for parents or police, Ms Barlow added, school staff should "take notice" of any harassment brought to their attention.

The Government has given Sussex schools £235 million to spend on modernising or rebuilding school buildings over the next three years.

Under a settlement announced as part of the comprehensive spending review, West Sussex schools will receive £112 million between 2008 and 2011, those in East Sussex will receive £81 million and Brighton and Hove's will get nearly £43 million.

Ms Barlow's comments came after a meeting with Schools Minister Jim Knight, who has urged local authorities to use part of their capital funding allocations to safeguard vulnerable groups, particularly Jewish pupils.

Ms Barlow said: "This is about making sure that all of our local communities feel that they have the protection they need if necessary.

"Parents in Hove and Portslade must be sure that their children are safe at school."

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