Councillor Suspended Over School Video Amid Safeguarding Dispute

Liberal Democrat councillor Adrian Chapmanlaw has been suspended from his party group after refusing to remove a video he filmed outside a primary school, citing safeguarding concerns raised by the institution. Chapmanlaw, who has been dubbed the 'new Cycling Mikey' by constituents for his vigilantism against motorists, captured footage of a taxi parked on zig-zag lines outside Manorside Academy in Poole, Dorset, during school drop-off.

The school requested the removal of the video, stating that children could be identified, potentially leading to safeguarding issues. However, Chapmanlaw refused, asserting that no one was identifiable in the 720p footage and suggesting the complaint was a tactic by parents caught parking illegally.

A spokesperson for Manorside Academy stated that Chapmanlaw's refusal to remove the footage put pupils at risk and caused distress to families, emphasizing that safeguarding is their priority. This stance drew criticism from Simon Wilson of the campaign group BCP & Dorset Motorists, who argued that the school's safeguarding lead's request should have been honored without argument.

Chapmanlaw was suspended by the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Liberal Democrats on Tuesday. Lib Dem leader Millie Earl stated that the group takes safeguarding concerns seriously and that Chapmanlaw will remain suspended pending the conclusion of the council's standards procedure. Chapmanlaw reacted to his suspension with anger, calling the decision "complete cow excrement" and refusing to apologize or remove the video.

He defended his actions by stating he was trying to protect children and accused those who suspended him of not supporting his efforts. He maintained that no safeguarding issues were present in the video and that the complaint was unfounded. Chapmanlaw has a history of criticism for filming outside schools, having previously expressed regret for any alarm caused by similar videos.

His vigilantism has gained him a reputation for documenting minor traffic and parking offenses in Bournemouth and Poole. He has been known to criticize drivers for parking on zig-zag lines and has been accused of provoking confrontations for his online videos. Incidents include a confrontation with a delivery driver and criticism of a disabled woman for parking on yellow lines.

Chapmanlaw defended his video quality, stating that the low resolution, combined with rain droplets on the lens, made identification impossible. He reiterated that he would remove footage only for genuine safeguarding reasons, not based on what he deemed tactics to prevent him from reporting bad drivers. He also noted that the school had identified itself in his post, not the other way around.

One parent, whose children attend the school, expressed discomfort with the filming and the lack of blurring for faces or the school itself, viewing it as a safeguarding issue. A spokesperson for BCP Council stated they would not take action against Chapmanlaw, acknowledging community concerns but noting his activities were undertaken in a personal capacity.