School's lollipop staff to wear body cameras to tackle anti-social behaviour

The school in Haywards Heath will become the second school in the county to use the cameras. Picture: Steve Robards

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Lollipop staff at a school in Haywards Heath will be wearing body cameras to help capture dangerous driving and abusive behaviour outside the school gates, West Sussex County Council (WSCC) has revealed.

After a successful trial at another school last year, Harlands Primary School in Penland Road will become the second school in the county to use the body cameras, worn by their lollipop staff in a bid to stop the anti-social behaviour.

The cameras are worn across the chest to capture audio and video footage of ‘drive throughs’ or abusive behaviour towards the lollipop staff, as they help children and parents across the road.

The council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Bob Lanzer, said: “Children and parents feel much safer. It has slowed the traffic and has made it far safer for the area around the school and the abuse towards our lollipop patrols has reduced.”

The camera aims to capture audio and video footage of anti-social behaviour outside the school gates. Picture: Steve Robards

WSCC ran the pilot scheme last year outside Camelsdale Primary School in Haslemere which proved ‘so successful’ that the school are continuing to use the cameras.

Due to verbal abuse at Harlands Primary School and incidents being reported to the police up to two times a week, governors ‘happily purchased’ a camera when they heard about the scheme, the council said.

“Recently our patrol there was reduced to tears by a very aggressive driver,” Bob said.

He added: “It was this final incident that prompted the governors to offer the funding to purchase a camera for this site.