Braintree: Big brother has 98 spies at Braintree school

10:00am Friday 21st September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Carri-Ann Taylor, Reporter

Braintree: Big brother has 98 spies at Braintree school Braintree: Big brother has 98 spies at Braintree school

A Braintree school has one of the highest number of spy cameras in the country.

A Freedom of information request by privacy watchdog, Big Brother Watch, revealed Alec Hunter Humanities College in Stubbs Lane has one camera for every 13 pupils.

The organisation, which quizzed over 2,000 schools nationwide, said its research raised serious questions about the privacy of school children across Britain.

However Headteacher, Trevor Law, defended his schools position, telling the Times, the school’s 98 cameras were installed to help tackle bullying and bad behaviour.

He stressed there were no cameras toilets or changing rooms.

He said: “Our use of CCTV is a clear indication of how seriously we take our responsibility to safeguard our pupils."

To read full story, see this week's Times. 

Comments (3)

10:30am Fri 21 Sep 12

Farmhouse France says...

If there is bullying and bad behaviour at schools shouldn't it be the Head Teacher's decision if they want CCTV? If these young people have nothing to hide why should they worry about the cameras or am I missing the point?
If there is bullying and bad behaviour at schools shouldn't it be the Head Teacher's decision if they want CCTV? If these young people have nothing to hide why should they worry about the cameras or am I missing the point? Farmhouse France

7:28pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Bit_Bytr says...

You're missing the point.

Ever heard of privacy, freedom, liberty? What if you ARE behaving but someone thinks otherwise? Now you're having to prove you're innocent instead of your accuser proving his accusation of guilt. The cart, therefore, is before the horse. You have it bass-ackwards!

You live in the most heavily surveilled country in the world - you gave up your liberty and freedom for a false sense of security. Yes - not only are you missing the point, you've missed the entire boat.
You're missing the point. Ever heard of privacy, freedom, liberty? What if you ARE behaving but someone thinks otherwise? Now you're having to prove you're innocent instead of your accuser proving his accusation of guilt. The cart, therefore, is before the horse. You have it bass-ackwards! You live in the most heavily surveilled country in the world - you gave up your liberty and freedom for a false sense of security. Yes - not only are you missing the point, you've missed the entire boat. Bit_Bytr

7:52pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Bit_Bytr says...

As a follow-up:

Stephen McAleer spent 3 months in prison Summer 2010 because a CCTV operator mistook the rose he was carrying for a knife.
http://www.dailyreco
rd.co.uk/news/scotti
sh-news/2010/08/28/i
nnocent-man-spent-th
ree-months-in-jail-a
fter-cctv-blunder-co
ps-mistook-rose-for-
knife

Four members of Brixton-based band The Thirst were arrested at gunpoint by armed police after a gig on 21st November 2009 and held for 16 hours after a council CCTV operator mistook their music equipment for a firearm.
http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/news/6705127/
Arrest-of-rock-band-
The-Thirst-referred-
to-IPCC
http://www.myspace.c
om/thethirstrockband


"Nothing to hide, nothing to fear" is a myth, a fallacy, a trojan horse wheeled out by those who can't justify their surveillance schemes, databases and privacy invasions. It is an argument that insults intelligent individuals and disregards the reality of building or maintaining a government. If ever you hear someone at a dinner party crank out this old chestnut, grab your coat, make your apologies, run fast and run far.

Anyway, I wouldn't want to be stuck at a dinner party next to someone who has nothing to hide - imagine how dull that would be.
As a follow-up: Stephen McAleer spent 3 months in prison Summer 2010 because a CCTV operator mistook the rose he was carrying for a knife. http://www.dailyreco rd.co.uk/news/scotti sh-news/2010/08/28/i nnocent-man-spent-th ree-months-in-jail-a fter-cctv-blunder-co ps-mistook-rose-for- knife Four members of Brixton-based band The Thirst were arrested at gunpoint by armed police after a gig on 21st November 2009 and held for 16 hours after a council CCTV operator mistook their music equipment for a firearm. http://www.telegraph .co.uk/news/6705127/ Arrest-of-rock-band- The-Thirst-referred- to-IPCC http://www.myspace.c om/thethirstrockband "Nothing to hide, nothing to fear" is a myth, a fallacy, a trojan horse wheeled out by those who can't justify their surveillance schemes, databases and privacy invasions. It is an argument that insults intelligent individuals and disregards the reality of building or maintaining a government. If ever you hear someone at a dinner party crank out this old chestnut, grab your coat, make your apologies, run fast and run far. Anyway, I wouldn't want to be stuck at a dinner party next to someone who has nothing to hide - imagine how dull that would be. Bit_Bytr

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