Drug search of 900 pupils

09 June 2006

Drug sniffer dog at school

POLICE screened a Rainham school's 900 pupils for drugs after teachers heard substances were being offered to pupils.

Sniffer dogs picked out 30 youngsters, aged from 11 to 15, who had their hands tested for drug traces and their pockets and personal belongings searched by police.

Positive

Six children tested positive showing traces of heroin, cannabis and methamphetamine, but police said they were very low traces, not indicative of possession, more likely contamination from other sources.

The youngsters' details were taken but no further action will be taken by the police or the school.

The two hour sweep was carried out by 25 police officers on Wednesday morning at Brittons School in Ford Lane, - the school where the Respect Campaign to improve citizenship was launched last year.

A search of the pupils' possessions for drugs proved negative. School lockers were also searched by sniffer dogs, but nothing was found.

The police were invited to carry out the sweep after the school raised fears about drugs in the school four months ago and it followed on from education workshops on drug awareness held last month.

Similar drug sweeps may now be conducted at other schools.

A police spokesman said: "This was the first in Havering and we are looking to do this in other schools in the near future, but this will not be compulsory at this stage."

Headteacher, Robert Sheffield, said: "I am very pleased no child has been found in possession of drugs.

"Traces of drugs that were found were deemed accidental and not from pupils using drugs. They probably came in contact with the substance by sitting on a bus where someone else had been using or taking the drug.

"We approached police after learning that illegal substances were becoming increasingly available and being offered to pupils. We took a very proactive stance on this.

"The pupils are 100 per cent behind this and want to make sure their school is drug free. I would like to thank the students for their co-operation throughout the initiative.

"I hope this brings some reassurance to their parents that we are taking positive steps to stamp out drug misuse," he said.

Parents

The school wrote to parents about the search after it had happened and a meeting is being held on Tuesday for any issues to be discussed.

A police spokesman said pupils could have refused to be searched but if officers had reasonable grounds for the search the person could be detained at a police station where the search would then be conducted.

The police's Problem Solving Advisor, Graham Knight, said: "The fact that no drugs were found highlights the power of the education phase of the operation.

"This is the first operation of its kind and it is hoped that we will now be able to develop a programme to be used in all schools