CCTV is touted as a safety measure for daycare centres. But does it work?
The federal government has just released an evaluation of CCTV use in more than 300 Australian early learning services.
CCTV cameras have been promoted as a safety measure in early learning centres, but a recent evaluation suggests they may not be as effective as previously thought. The Australian federal government ran a trial of CCTV in 309 services, finding that only 3% of incidents were detected by cameras, mostly involving minor hazards. CCTV was not found to deter perpetrators of child sexual abuse or capture such crimes, as these incidents occur in private spaces where cameras are not allowed.
Cameras were not even able to prevent a trainee educator from assaulting a young boy at a centre in Far North Queensland, despite the centre having CCTV installed. The report highlights technical and governance issues with CCTV, such as data security blind spots and unlawful audio recording, urging officials to focus on harmonising surveillance laws and setting clear footage retention rules.
International research also warns that CCTV can create a false sense of security, leading educators to focus on individual deviance rather than addressing broader organisational and cultural issues that can prevent abuse. While the government has announced a CCTV grant program, critics argue that this spending may give the illusion of security without addressing other reforms needed to prevent harm in early learning centres.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
