Football stadium CCTV view of female toilets is 'blurred'

A football fan using a female toilet cubicle at Swindon Town's County Ground says she was surprised to look up and see a CCTV camera above her.

Sharon Armfield, 59 said she glanced up and saw a shiny black object and realised it was a camera pointing in her direction.

The League Two club said the camera, in the away section of the Arkell's John Trollope Stand, is fitted with a motion blur so ers using the cubicles are not visible.

The English Football League (EFL) says clubs must have CCTV inside their stadiums in accordance with safety regulations.

AFC Wimbledon fan, Ray Armfield posted on X on Saturday questioning what appeared to be a CCTV camera pointing at his wife in the toilets in the away section of the Arkell's stand. 

Swindon Town says the camera has been there for a number of years and is positioned for maximum coverage of the concourse area.

Ray's wife, Sharon Armfield is a matchday volunteer at AFC Wimbledon.

She said she thought: "If I can see the camera from where I am sat on the toilet, can the camera see me?

"I know they have cameras in public areas but I was worried about safeguarding issues with kids at the ground."

She said she told her husband and friends who were all "astounded".

The club says it will review the location of the cameras, which have been demonstrated to the EFL and approved by it, and provide additional signage for ers.

The CCTV cameras, which are not static and can move, are positioned at both ends of the stands.

Swindon Town says the cameras are there to keep fans safe and monitor entrances, concourses and monitor crowd density.

Ms Armfield said "if there had been a sign to say this camera is not pointing into the female toilets I wouldn't have been worried but there were no signs to say this."

Swindon Town fan Anna Tuersley, 56, said, "It's all about context. These cameras are on the concourse to protect fans but the club needs to communicate this."

A club spokesman said, "CCTV cameras are installed at the County Ground to conform with the Guide to Safety at Sport Grounds recommendations as they are an integral part of the risk-based safety and security management systems to keep fans safe when attending matches.

"There is also a requirement to conform to data protection and safeguarding legislation.

"The cameras themselves have been installed in the same position for a number of years and they have been recently upgraded."

The camera system is protected and only operated by Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensed public space surveillance personnel due to data protection and safeguarding requirements, the club added.

Ms Tuersley welcomed the review by the club, and the introduction of signs.

She added: "This information needed to be communicated before people asked the question."

Ms Armfield said they had a phone call from the football ground to say someone else had pointed out the placement of the camera a fortnight ago and she welcomed the introduction of signs informing fans about the CCTV.

The club says it plans to have new signs up by the next fixture to make people aware of the cameras.

Swindon Town won the game against AFC Wimbledon 3-2.