Teachers use body-cameras in the classroom to combat bad behaviour

Secondary school teachers are using body cameras to try and beat bad behaviour by pupils in class, an academic has revealed.

Tom Ellis, a criminal justice researcher, said teachers at two state schools were using the body-worn cameras as part of a three-month experiment.

“Most schools now have some level of problems with low-level background disorder in classrooms and the teachers have become quite fed up with not being able to teach,” Ellis told the Guardian.

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Ellis is based at the University of Portsmouth.

He added that the cameras are not recording constantly, but only when an incident occurred.

The experiment has not gone down well with civil liberties’ groups though.

“This sounds like an over the top response to an age old problem,” said Daniel Nesbitt of Big Brother Watch.

“These schools have to be very careful about how they use this intrusive technology as it risks turning teachers into snoopers.

“Parents and pupils must be kept fully informed about the trial and be given every opportunity to raise any concerns they may have.”

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the trial “is a matter for the schools”, which were reportedly not named in case it interfered with the pilot scheme.