Schools furious over secret filming of bullies, threaten legal action

At least three Dutch secondary schools have said they are furious about secret cameras used on their premises to record footage for a television show about bullying.

One school in Hoogvliet said it will not allow the footage to be used and another said no children can be shown who have not given permission for their faces to be used.

The programme makers fitted children who are bullied with secret cameras so they can record what happens to them.

Sensationalist

But the schools say the show is sensationalist and stigmatising and could have a dangerous impact on the children involved. At least one school is considering going to court to stop the footage being used.

According to the Volkskrant, when the Einstein Lyceum in Hoogvliet refused to cooperate, the production company blocked the cycle lane to the school with a giant screen and showed pupils the footage recorded over a three-week period.

The pupils were then encouraged to show their support for the victim, school head Geert Millekamp told the paper.

Broadcaster RTL and the programme maker Skyhigh refused to say how many schools were involved in the recordings, news agency ANP says.

Last year, at least two Dutch school pupils committed suicide because of persistent bullying.

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