We know that the HALO Smart Sensor can at first appear to be expensive to schools even when they know they need to tackle vaping. However, Ecl-ips customers are finding that in the long term money is saved due to the advanced detection features of the HALO.
Reducing Vandalism in school toilets
Schools like Baxter College in Kidderminster had suffered from vandalism in their toilets when groups of students were gathering, primarily to vape. However, since the school was able to take action when vaping was detected and reduced this in their toilets, the vandalism in the toilets has also stopped.
If students attempt to vandalise or remove the actual device this will set off the tamper alert for the HALO Smart Sensor giving schools peace of mind that their investment is safe.
Picking up loud noises
Meanwhile, even if there are no pupils vaping the HALO Smart Sensor can pick up loud noises, with its aggression detection, and will send an alert if sounds go above a certain pre-set threshold. An alert for aggression could be a sign of vandalism taking place or of students gathering when they should be in lessons or possibly bullying or fighting. The alert gives school staff the opportunity to take action and check if students are misbehaving in the school toilets or changing rooms.
Detecting calls for help
Separately, the HALO will also pick up if certain key words are spoken. As was explained in an earlier blog this does not mean there is any audio recording but instead the sensor will alert when triggered by the specific emergency words when used, such as help. No personal data is stored on the devices.
Use CCTV to enforce behaviour rules
The schools that have purchased HALO Smart sensors report that if there is vaping there will be a busy first week when alerts will be triggered regularly so both teaching and non-teaching staff need to be ready to respond and take action to catch perpetrators. Matthew Carpenter, principle at Baxter College, and Charlotte Slattery, Deputy Head at St Joseph’s College, in Stoke-on-Trent, also recommended the use of CCTV near the entrances of toilet blocks so that footage could be reviewed of students if staff did not reach pupils quickly enough.
Use staff more effectively
However, within a few weeks schools have found alerts become very rare because students know the staff are taking an active approach to stopping vaping and other anti-social behaviour. Charlotte said: “I had dithered about it for over 12 months due to the cost but it has been transformational for us.”
As well as reducing costs for schools related to repairing any damage that might have been caused to toilet areas due to vandalism, staff costs are reduced, or staff will be better deployed, if they were employed primarily to patrol toilets and corridors to tackle vaping and bad behaviour.
Supporting schools: contact us for advice
We know that school leaders will be taking a much-needed summer break soon. However, if they want to find out more about how purchasing the HALO could mean money is saved over the long-term they can get in touch with us now. Otherwise, we will be ready to talk more to them about the benefits of the HALO Smart Sensor in September.