Rail passenger's anger at CCTV in station toilets

[Metroland]

AN ANGRY rail passenger has accused Virgin Trains of an invasion of privacy after discovering CCTV cameras in toilets at a Midland station.

Father of four Paul Cooper, from Solihull, was shocked to find cameras in the gents at Wolverhampton rail station, leased and operated by Virgin Trains.

Car delivery man Mr Cooper, aged 50, of Thelsford Way, has lodged a complaint with Virgin but has yet to receive a proper reply.

"I use the rail network daily, travelling throughout Britain from John o'Groats to Lands End," he said. "This is is the first time I have ever found CCTV cameras in toilets at a rail station and I am disgusted by it.

"There is a CCTV camera in toilets at Wolverhampton, fitted to the ceiling above the urinals and cubicles.

"I told one of the platform staff of my disgust at finding a camera in the gents and was basically told 'tough, it is there for security reasons'.

"I was also told that the camera was there because of drug problems.

"Apparently there is a camera in the ladies as well at Wolverhampton

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/...er-at-cctv-in-station-toilets-97319-20540545/

 

[Guinness]

AN ANGRY rail passenger

It almost sounds like a Daily Mail Article!

 

[1D53]

I've spotted it in there before and it doesn't even face the urinals so nobody can see you p***ing or anything.

 

[Metroland]

It almost sounds like a Daily Mail Article!

Nope this is the Daily Mail Article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=517250&in_page_id=1770

Just checked this, on private property there is no laws preventing the cameras being put anywhere

extract from the new 2008 CCTV code of practice

"In areas where people have a heightened expectation of privacy, such as changing rooms or toilet
areas, cameras should only be used in the most exceptional circumstances where it is necessary
to deal with very serious concerns. In these cases, you should make extra effort to ensure that
those under surveillance are aware"

I did wonder about this, but in some ways not surprised.

 

[AlexS]

It's been in there for quite a while and I don't have any problems with it.

Wolves station is on the borders of the 'red light district' and the areas around it are quite dangerous in their own ways. Even the subway from the station to the low level station site has been the sighting for a few muggings, rapes, and even the odd murder over the past few years.

The bogs at Wolves are quite secluded in that urinals are in one corner, cubicles are in the other, and there's a narrow little walkway to get out of them. If someone corners you in there there's no easy escape.

 

[Metroland]

Wolves station is on the borders of the 'red light district' and the areas around it are quite dangerous in their own ways. Even the subway from the station to the low level station site has been the sighting for a few muggings, rapes, and even the odd murder over the past few years.

Sounds Lovely!

 

[class 313]

IMO, I'd rather cover up a bit than to have people doing drugs in the toilets, or worse.

 

[devon_metro]

It almost sounds like a Daily Mail Article!

He was clearly so angry that he spoke ANGRY in capital letters.

 

[Mojo]

Having examined other articles on that site, it seems they always put the first word in capitals, except when the first word is 'A' or 'An' when they put both in caps.

Is there any proof CCTV in this case gets rid of the problem, rather than displacing it? Would regular staff patrols, limitation of use and/or access for ticket holders only be a better solution. CCTV seems to be the solution to everything these days, I don't doubt its use in many circumstances, but is it really the solution in every case?

 

[Nym]

Nope this is the Daily Mail Article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=517250&in_page_id=1770

Just checked this, on private property there is no laws preventing the cameras being put anywhere

extract from the new 2008 CCTV code of practice

"In areas where people have a heightened expectation of privacy, such as changing rooms or toilet
areas, cameras should only be used in the most exceptional circumstances where it is necessary
to deal with very serious concerns. In these cases, you should make extra effort to ensure that
those under surveillance are aware"

I did wonder about this, but in some ways not surprised.

We've got them at piccadilly and they point straight at the urinals! I think it's in there to stop cottaging... Won't work

 

[Metroland]

Yes more CCTV than anywhere else in the world, yet the crime keeps on going up and up...

I seem to remember the police coming to out sixth form years ago, to do a talk. Anyway, for some reason it got mentioned that they do public loo patrols and sit in wait of drug dealers and cottagers...So it's probably nothing new.

I see the conservatives have nicked my idea to get criminals to pay victims back, nice one.

 

[P156KWJ]

maybe if they have drug problems they should put those UV lights in there so that people can't see their blood veins so they can't inject themselves...

 

[Max]

maybe if they have drug problems they should put those UV lights in there so that people can't see their blood veins so they can't inject themselves...

This is the case in the toilets at Hull station. Personally I find UV lights pretty unpleasant, but if they make things safer then it probably isn't a bad thing.

 

[Nym]

Bit of an arse if you're a IDD Insulin dependant diabetic... can't shoot that up then...

Don't see what the problem with cottagers is, they spend money in the shops!

 

[theblackwatch]

This is the case in the toilets at Hull station. Personally I find UV lights pretty unpleasant, but if they make things safer then it probably isn't a bad thing.

Northern have fitted them at the toilets at Harrogate station. I am told they also make your eyes hurt after a while, I would assume is intended to stop people loitering in there, which apparently has been a problem in the past.

 

[1D53]

Metro has them fitted at most, if not all bus station too - again to prevent loitering and drug abuse.

 

[class 313]

Metro has them fitted at most, if not all bus station too - again to prevent loitering and drug abuse.

Good on Metro. People moan about it going on, then people moan about action being done towards stopping it... Just never happy.

 

[A0]

I don't see what the problem is - if it cuts down on vandalism or misuse i.e.drunks / drug users - then it has to be a good thing. The toilets are there for the benefit of all rail users and should be in a serviceable condition. It's a shame that, once again, measures need to be taken to protect the sensible majority from the idiot minority.

 

[P156KWJ]

This is the case in the toilets at Hull station. Personally I find UV lights pretty unpleasant, but if they make things safer then it probably isn't a bad thing.

At Nottingham's central library they are retards. They put UV lights in there, and then leave a window open all the time so natural light comes in!

 

[Nym]

Thats to get rid of the smell of methadone and cottaging.

I remember walking past ASDA pharmacy and saying (Reasonably loud) "Oh I love the smell of methadone in the morning" the pharmacist didn't know weather to laugh or cry...

 

[me123]

Our local pharmacist has a queue labelled "Methadone" hock: It is in fact the longest queue in the place at any time

 

[Nym]

they qued with everyone else in Brid, or the local women hit them with their stick and told them to wait! Preston Road in Hull had it on optics