Schools call in police drug dogs

BY NATHAN BEAUMONT

Wellington schools have called in police sniffer dogs to search for drugs in a "desperate" move to tackle a growing problem that is "destroying" lives.

One school principal has admitted pupils are smoking cannabis at school then turning up to class, and in some cases parents have supplied them with drugs.

But using sniffer dogs has been criticised by the Drug Foundation, which described the move as a "blunt tactic" that created a climate of fear.

After requests from schools, police have searched at least three schools in the past two weeks Wainuiomata High School, Tawa College and Taita College. Visits to other schools are understood to be planned.

Seven police officers and one dog went through eight classrooms at the Wainuiomata school on Thursday. Pupils were led from the classrooms, leaving their bags and cellphones behind so they could not alert friends.

Although drugs were not found, principal Rob Mill was not surprised because he had decided to warn pupils about the visit.

"There is a major issue with drugs at school and I hope this sends a strong warning that drugs will not be tolerated. This is not a one-off event, the police will be back," he said.

"I am feeling frustrated and desperate that despite all the warnings and opportunities for kids to seek support for their cannabis use, it just seems to be growing. It is destroying a number of students' lives."

He said the problem had increased significantly this year and he knew of some cases in which parents had given drugs to their children. "I am told there's been a particularly good cannabis crop this year and it's cheap. In some cases it's cheaper than other drugs like alcohol."

The drugs were leading some pupils to slacken off at school, with many under-achieving and showing behaviour problems. Unless the issue was confronted "openly and honestly" by the school's community the problem would not disappear.

"Some parents are not taking this issue seriously, they don't see it as a big deal. They are delusional and we won't get on top of this until that changes."

Taita College principal Saty Candasamy said his school did not have a problem with drugs. Tuesday's police visit was more about keeping pupils "on their toes". "If we keep them alert to the fact that this is what happens normally around here then that is not a bad message.

"As a school we want to ensure that we signal to them that we regard it as a serious issue."

Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said using sniffer dogs created mistrust between pupils and schools.

"It's not a tool we would support. People think it is a good way to scare kids off drugs, but we have tried that and it doesn't work. A more effective way is to empower kids to make good choices."

Tawa College principal Murray Lucas said police and the sniffer dogs were not brought in to scare pupils. "It was a message that drugs will not be tolerated at school. We mean business. No drugs were found here and that's the way we want it to stay."

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