Petition To Mandate Wearable Cameras For Care Staff Now Over 19,000 Signatures
A petition calling for wearable cameras for staff in residential schools or care homes to be mandated has today reached over 19,00 signatures, meaning the government will have to respond to it
The petition was launched by Leanne Batey who says that her son, who has Autism and severe learning difficulties, reported physical abuse at his residential school.
Ms batley said: “The use of wearable cameras by professionals in residential care environments has proven to improve transparency, promote safety, and prevent potential incidents of abuse. Studies on the use of body-worn cameras in the police force have exhibited how they can dissuade misconduct and increase officer accountability, suggesting similar positive results could be anticipated in care environments (“The effects of body-worn cameras on police activity and police-citizen encounters: A randomized controlled trial”, Ariel et al., 2016). Furthermore, this would provide much-needed concrete evidence during investigations and remove the dependence on conflicting, subjective testimonies.”
“Our call stands for protecting the rights, dignity, safety, and well-being of our loved ones receiving care. This step is pivotal in the fight against safeguarding vulnerabilities and moving towards a more transparent, accountable system. Please sign this petition in support of mandating wearable cameras for all workers in residential schools and care homes.”
“We call for a system where a discreet recorder is worn by all carers at all times. This footage would be stored in a very secure system which would be accessed by senior authorities such as police or a designated lead within the care facility should concerns be raised or intermittent checks be performed, of which guardians would be made aware. The footage would be periodically deleted.”
Care Campaign for the Vulnerable (CCFTV) has long been at the forefront of advocating for safety and transparency in care homes.
A 2018 petition calling for the implementation of safety monitoring systems gained national attention, highlighting the critical need for reform in care settings. The overwhelming public support for this initiative even saw CCFTV taking our message to the streets, making sure the voices of vulnerable individuals and their families were heard.
The CCFTV campaign led to important discussions in Westminster, where policymakers recognised the growing public demand for better protection in care homes. While this was a significant milestone, there is still much to do. Vulnerable residents, and care staff continue to face risks that greater independent oversight can help mitigate.
