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School's CCTV to catch pupils smoking is unfair

A school in Staffordshire has been criticised for using on-site security cameras to film evidence of its pupils smoking. Landau Forte Academy in Tamworth said the footage was used to fine pupils £10 for breaking its school rules.

A school in Staffordshire has been criticised for using on-site security cameras to film evidence of its pupils smoking.

Landau Forte Academy in Tamworth said the footage was used to fine pupils £10 for breaking its school rules.

CCTV advisory group Camerawatch said the practice was potentially unfair.

It said the data protection code of practice states that surveillance cameras must clearly warn the public if they are employed for non-security use.

Some parents told the BBC they were in favour of it because the CCTV could deter bullying.

Other parents said they felt it contravened the pupil's right to privacy.

Paul Mackie from Camerawatch said: "You are not allowed to just put up a CCTV system and then carry on.

"If you're going to collect images from the public and they can be recognised, your CCTV system must be registered with the Information Commissioner's Office, who is the overseeing authority.

"And when you register you have to state exactly what you are using that CCTV system for and those reasons must be on the signage that people will see before they are captured by the system."

The school said its CCTV and smoking fixed penalty policy was available for parents to see on its website.It has declined to comment further about the subject.

 To read more about this story go to the BBC website