A SCHOOL has been kitted out with CCTV cameras in the hall, corridors and even the LOOS in a bid to beat vandalism.
The move to install 41 cameras all around Norden High School and Sports College, Rishton, follows incidents last year in which pupils caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the toilets.
Sue Edwards, the school's business manager, said: "Cubicles were ripped to pieces and sinks torn off the wall.
"It is not just about the cost of the repairs, it is also the disruption and inconvenience this causes to the rest of the pupils, most of whom are perfectly well-behaved."
Mrs Edwards said the cameras had been installed in communal areas to keep an eye on disruptive behaviour, including vandalism and smoking.
To protect pupils' privacy, cameras placed in the toilets have not been placed in the cubicles but have been sited around the sink areas.
Some have also been placed outside in a bid to keep vandals away in evenings and at weekends.
Mrs Edwards said: "We have had some problems with mindless vandals and we have asked the police to keep an eye on the school.
"During the Easter holidays we had 13 windows broken in one week. The following week we had another five or six broken. I am pleased to say that since these cameras were installed we have not had any."
