Sniffer dogs searching for drugs in schools

Sniffer dogs are being brought into schools amid growing concern from police and education officials about the escalating number of children found in possession of drugs.

Last year, schools stood down 1184 pupils for drugs, suspended 815, and expelled 30, the Dominion Post newspaper reported.

Education Ministry statistics dating back to 2006 show rates of stand-downs and expulsions for drugs have increased but suspensions have decreased.

Police used drug sniffer dogs in 12 schools in greater Wellington in the past eight months in an attempt to halt the trend.

Although some schools have taken a hard line on drug-use with suspensions and expulsions, the police - working with pupils, their caregivers and sometimes the school - have been trying a different approach by signing pupils up to "alternative-action contracts".

The six-month contracts can require the pupil to undergo random urine tests to detect drugs, write essays on cannabis use and abuse, perform community work and undergo behaviour and counselling reviews.

If they breached the contract, including failing a drug test, police would revisit the initial drug charge. The school could choose to expel the child.

One Wairarapa school, which police would not name, has flushed out eight pupils in the past three months with drugs on them at school.

The children, aged between 12 and 16, were being dealt with by police using the alternative action contract. Some had been tested at school for drug use.

Wairarapa youth aid prosecutor Dave Drummond said the contracts, which were being used nationwide, were an attempt to keep children in school while offering fair punishment.

"Colleagues everywhere in the country are noticing a surge in notifications of drug use or possession in schools," he said.

"The positive thing is schools are not trying to sweep it under the carpet to protect their own reputations," he said.

"They are using police to deal with the kids and send a really clear message that drug use will not be tolerated."

The Post Primary Teachers Association, the secondary school teachers' union, said it was pushing for more guidance counsellors, social workers and programmes to support parents and families.

- NZPA