What are the alternative approaches to CCTV cameras?
These include; • increasing feelings of ownership by involving pupils fully in the monitoring and management of toilets • consulting pupils over any policies on toilet visits • allowing a more humane policy on toilet visits (from our postbag, we see that restricted practices upset and anger pupils – which encourages antisocial behaviour) • investigating the root causes. Misuse of toilets may be symptomatic of poor toilets or even of wider issues within a school. Communicating with the pupils (perhaps initially via questionnaires) may help reduce toilet problems • discussing issues of toilet behaviour, privacy and respect with pupils • encouraging peer pressure to respect toilets and fellow pupils • maintaining high quality toilets and repairing any damage promptly • playing classical music (can calm and deter lingering) • better toilet design – such as, avoiding corners to lurk in; mirrors at sinks so that pupils can see if anyone is behind them • smoke detectors – connected to the sch
