The government is actively considering making CCTV cameras compulsory in nurseries across England, following the horrific case of a paedophile childminder who sexually abused young girls in his care.
Appalling Crimes Lead to Policy Review
Vincent Chan, 45, admitted to 26 serious sexual offences last month, relating to his time working at the Bright Horizons nursery in West Hampstead, London. Despite passing rigorous vetting, Chan worked at the setting for nearly seven years before his crimes were uncovered.
His guilty pleas included five counts of sexual assault of a child by penetration, four counts of sexual assault by touching, and multiple charges related to taking and making indecent photographs of children. He is due to be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on January 23.
Prosecutors have since authorised a further 15 charges against Chan, including nine of taking indecent photographs and six of outraging public decency. These additional allegations predate his employment at Bright Horizons and occurred at a different location.
Political Pressure for Mandatory Surveillance
The case has triggered a major review of safeguarding in early years education. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced a local child safeguarding practice review in December, vowing to "learn every lesson we can".
When previously pressed on mandating CCTV, Ms Phillipson expressed caution, warning that misused footage could lead to other forms of child abuse. She instead appointed an expert advisory group to develop guidance on the safe use of surveillance technology.
However, the government's position appears to be evolving. In the House of Commons on Monday, Education Minister Olivia Bailey stated the government is "considering the mandatory use of CCTV in early years settings" as a direct part of the ongoing review.
Calls for Action and Nursery Response
Ms Bailey's comments came in response to Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Highgate. Ms Siddiq directly asked the minister to introduce mandatory CCTV as a safeguarding tool following the "horrific sexual abuse case" in her constituency.
The Bright Horizons nursery in West Hampstead has since been shut down. A company spokesperson said they were "shocked and appalled" by Chan's crimes and that their thoughts were with the affected children and families.
The spokesperson emphasised the nursery's existing safeguarding practices, which include rigorous vetting and DBS checks, and confirmed the company has commissioned an independent review of its safeguarding procedures.
The government has committed to progressing its review rapidly, placing the safety of children as the paramount concern in any future policy decisions regarding nursery CCTV and broader child safeguarding measures.
