CCTV may very well be made obligatory in kids’s nurseries after paedophile who labored at Bright Horizons for seven years sexually abused little ladies
Nurseries could be required to install CCTV after a paedophile childminder admitted sexually abusing little girls in his care.
Vincent Chan, 45, had passed vetting and worked for nearly seven years at Bright Horizons nursery in West Hampstead.
Last month he admitted 26 counts of assaulting a girl under the age of 13, taking an indecent photograph, and making an indecent photograph.
Chan has now been charged with an additional nine counts of taking an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and six counts of outraging public decency.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced a local child safeguarding practice review in December to ‘learn every lesson we can to make sure that crimes like this are guarded against at every step and every stage’.
Pressed at the time to mandate CCTV in nurseries, Ms Phillipson said this could lead to other forms of child abuse if footage was misused.
She appointed an expert advisory group to develop guidance for the sector on the safe and effective use of CCTV.
Vincent Chan, 45, had passed vetting and worked for nearly seven years at Bright Horizons nursery in West Hampstead
Education minister Olivia Bailey appeared to go further on Monday as she told the Commons the Government is ‘considering the mandatory use of CCTV in early years settings’ as part of the review.
This came in response to Labour former minister and MP for Hampstead and Highgate, Tulip Siddiq, who said: ‘The Secretary of State will know about the horrific sexual abuse case in one of my local nurseries.
‘So could I ask the Secretary of State, would she introduce mandatory CCTV in nurseries so that we can use it as a safeguarding tool?’
Speaking at education questions, Ms Bailey replied: ‘I thank (Ms Siddiq) for her advocacy for her constituents in what has been an absolutely appalling case, and my thoughts remain with all of the children and families who have been affected.
‘The safety of our children comes first, so we are considering the mandatory use of CCTV in early years settings through our review, which we are getting under way rapidly.’
In December, Chan – who was born in Britain – pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault of a child by penetration and four counts of sexual assault of a child by touching.
He also admitted 11 counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, and six counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child.
He is expected to be sentenced on January 23 at Wood Green Crown Court.
The new allegations did not take place at the nursery, which has now been shut down.
Prosecutor Philip Stott said: ‘Mr Chan is due to be sentenced in respect of a number of serious sexual offences to which he has pleaded guilty regarding offences at his place of employment, the Bright Horizons nursery.
‘There have been further charges authorised and postal requisition sent at the end of last week in respect of 15 further charges – nine of taking indecent photographs of a child and six of outraging public decency.
‘Those predated his employment at Bright Horizons nursery and took place at a different location.’
A spokesperson for the nursery previously said: ‘We are shocked and appalled by this individual’s horrific crimes.
‘Our thoughts are first and foremost with the children and families affected, and we are committed to offering support to them during this incredibly difficult time.’
They said the company has extensive safeguarding practices in place, including rigorous vetting and DBS criminal records checks. The company has also commissioned a review of its safeguarding procedures.
