Birmingham City Fan Claims Violation by CCTV in Women’s Toilet at Away Game
A Birmingham City supporter expressed outrage over a CCTV camera above the women’s toilets at an away match, feeling her privacy was compromised.
Birmingham, UK, CCTV, Women’s Toilets, Privacy Violation, Football
Birmingham: A Birmingham City fan was left feeling pretty uncomfortable after spotting a CCTV camera right above the women’s toilets during an away game. She was at Swindon Town’s ground and couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the camera while using the facilities.
She had made the trip to Wiltshire to cheer on her team in the EFL Vertu Trophy. After the game, she shared a snap of the camera on social media, saying, “Sat on the toilet at Swindon away and notice a CCTV camera right above me.” That post really blew up, getting around two million views!
Now, Swindon Town had previously mentioned that the camera was set up with a motion blur, so fans using the toilets wouldn’t be visible. The English Football League requires clubs to have CCTV for safety, but this situation raised some eyebrows.
Vicki Eyles, a fan engagement officer for Swindon, reached out to the fan, saying she was happy to discuss it further. She assured her that the camera was approved by the EFL and that the digital blur was there for privacy. But the Birmingham fan wasn’t convinced.
She told BirminghamLive, “At first, I thought it was just odd, but then it hit me that someone could be looking into the cubicle. It made me feel very exposed and, quite honestly, a little violated.”
She understood the need for monitoring the concourse but felt it was inappropriate to have a camera over the women’s toilets. “They say it’s blurred, but what if someone removes that blur? It’s a real invasion of privacy,” she added.
This isn’t the first time the camera’s location has been questioned. Another fan raised concerns last season during a different match. In response, Swindon issued a statement explaining the camera’s purpose and reassured fans that it doesn’t have a view into the toilets due to the privacy measures in place.
They also mentioned that the CCTV is managed by licensed security personnel and that they’re looking into additional measures to ease fans’ worries. It’s a tricky situation, and it’s clear that privacy in such spaces is a big deal for many.