A SCHOOL crossing patrol officer will be given a body worn camera in a bid to protect them from dangerous and abusive drivers.

Essex County Council is launching a month long trial in Brinkley Lane, Highwoods, on Monday.

The crossing is used by children on their way to The Gilberd, Brinkley Grove Primary and Highwoods Community Primary schools as well as several nearby nurseries.

Action has been taken in response to drivers ignoring requests to stop at the crossing and being abusive to council staff.

Ray Gooding, councillor responsible for education, said: “The majority of Essex drivers respect school crossing patrol officers and the safety of the children and families they help to cross the road.

“Unfortunately, there is a small minority of drivers who are impatient and sometimes even abusive toward the crossing patrols.

“This is utterly unacceptable behaviour.

“Our crossing patrols are wonderful people, often loved by the communities they serve, who work in rain, wind and snow to keep the children of Essex safe.”

“The safety and wellbeing of these crossing patrol officers, and the safety of children and families they help to cross the road, is of utmost concern to Essex County Council. That is why we are holding this trial of a body camera on school crossing patrol officer on this busy road.”

School crossing patrol officers are often targets of drivers’ frustrations and in 2018 a staff member was knocked over by a car whilst working in Hawthorn Road, Colchester.

The year before, a lollipop lady at Montgomery Infant School and Nursery in Colchester quit her job after being threatened and abused by parents.

Highwoods ward councillor Gerard Oxford (Ind, Highwoods) said he regularly witnessed drivers being abusive to school crossing patrol staff and even children.

Mr Oxford said: “It is bad down there. A number of times we have had drivers come around the corner and go straight through the crossing, nearly knocking the crossing patrol person over. It is dangerous and people are not paying enough attention.

“Drivers need to stop abusing pedestrians and pupils crossing roads as well as council staff who are just doing their job to try and keep people safe.

“The cameras are absolutely the right thing to do and this has my full backing.”

Drivers who do not stop at the request of crossing patrol officers can face fines of up to £1,000 and three points on their licence.

The trial scheme will last one month and then will be evaluated.