Installing closed-circuit television cameras in WA high schools would help control bullying, vandalism and drug trafficking, according to WA Secondary Executives Association president Rob Nairn.
  
Mr Nairn said schools that reported many cases of antisocial behaviour would benefit if security cameras were introduced after Victorian principals said they had led to a marked decrease in bullying when installed in 95 per cent of State schools.
  
“If there’s something happening and we have the technology to stop it, with common sense, I don’t see why it shouldn’t be pursued,” Mr Nairn said.
  
“Most shopping centres are under video surveillance. Yes, there needs to be a commonsense approach, but I can see how security cameras would be beneficial.
  
“If security cameras could assist with any negative issues that occurred in schools that would be a positive step.”
  
A Department of Education and Training spokesman said some WA State schools at risk of damage and vandalism had used temporary security cameras but there were no plans to introduce them permanently to help monitor bullying.
  
State School Teachers Union president Anne Gisborne called Mr Nairn’s idea an intrusion on privacy and that any “Big Brother-type” security system could put students and teachers at risk of misinterpretation.
  
“Once you put in place these sorts of measures where you are having people observed 24 hours a day, that can impede the development of good relationships between teachers and students and there’s always a risk the information on cameras can be taken out of context and used for other less savoury matters,” she said.
  
“If there was a need for security cameras, it would need to be done in a restricted way and the location of these cameras would need to be carefully considered and done in consultation with teaching staff.
  
“I would also think parents would be concerned about the risk the information and footage could be badly used if put into the wrong hands.”