A mother has described her horror after her 10-year-old daughter was allegedly filmed in the school toilets by a member of agency staff at a primary school in Bolton. The parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, said her daughter reported the incident immediately after leaving the bathroom.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a woman in her 20s was arrested on suspicion of voyeurism on Tuesday, November 11, and has since been bailed pending further enquiries. The school sent a message to parents confirming the arrest, stating it occurred on the staff member's second day.
The mother said her daughter 'immediately told a member of staff' about the incident, and the school contacted the police. 'Thankfully, my daughter knew this was wrong, left the bathroom and immediately told a member of staff,' she explained. 'This is beyond unacceptable. A member of staff, even agency, had a phone inside children’s toilets and used it to record a child. That is a massive safeguarding failure.'
The mother has kept her daughter home from school, saying the environment feels unsafe and her daughter is 'too scared to go to school.' She expressed frustration that she has received no explanation or details of new procedures from the school, and has been told further absences would not be authorised. 'It just builds a total lack of trust in the school itself and in the wider system which is meant to keep our children safe,' she said.
Bolton Council confirmed that 'robust safeguarding measures' are in place and that appropriate procedures have been followed. A spokesperson said: 'We are aware that a member of agency staff working at a local school has been arrested. As the matter is subject to a police investigation we are unable to comment further.'
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Sharples of GMP’s Bolton district said: 'We understand that incidents like this cause significant concern in the community, and we want to reassure the public that this matter has been treated with the utmost seriousness. This was an isolated incident with no wider threat to the community.'
