The headteacher of a South Derbyshire primary school says that the installation of a CCTV system has helped put a stop to vandal attacks that in the past have cost thousands of pounds and disrupted school life.

Concerns about Heath Fields Primary School in Hatton were raised at the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership’s Safer Neighbourhoods meetings in the area, with residents saying the Field Avenue site was suffering from criminal damage and anti-social behaviour.

In 2007 over £6,000 worth of damage was caused to the school building, which Headmaster Gordon McBurnie said as well as impacting on finances also had an effect on the running of the school because classrooms and the kitchen had to be closed.

South Derbyshire Crime Reduction Officer PC Eileen Banton visited the school and subsequently reported: “A quality CCTV system can have a dramatic impact in reducing crime. This is not just restricted to out of hours security but also in dealing with daytime security and issues of personal safety of pupils, staff and users of the site.”

Hatton resident Danny Taylor - who has children in the school - made an application for funds from the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership for the system and it agreed to make a contribution of £5,000.

As a result, a state-of-the art system consisting of 14 dome cameras, hemisphere lighting, a hard drive recorder capable of storing up to three weeks footage and a monitor have all been installed. Signs saying that the system is in operation have also been put up on the school building.

And police say since its introduction there have been no incidents on the site.

The total cost of the equipment together with training and maintenance added up to more than £11,000 and local companies have provided the additional money required. Those who have made a contribution are Caring Hands, Creative Days Nursery, Dove Fleet Deliveries, Dove Valley Community Project, Hatton Sports and Social Club, J B E Engineering, J W Glass, Midlands Co-op, O’Connor Electrical Ltd., Particle Technology and the Salt Box Café.

Sarah Dagley, Safer Neighbourhoods Officer with the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership said: “The Partnership is delighted that the new equipment appears to be having a dramatic impact on criminal damage and anti-social behaviour on this site.

“This project is particularly noteworthy because of the way members of the community have become involved in terms of getting information together to make a case for having the system installed, making the application and, of course, by making a financial commitment towards it.”

Mr McBurnie added: “The reaction has been very positive and we wish to say a huge thanks to everyone that has made this possible.”