I was reading The Times at the gym today (they don’t get the Indy), and read this article. In my opinion, this is disgusting. I can’t believe that this should be allowed to happen. I’m not just saying this because I don’t agree with the drugs classification system in this country, but because I honestly see this as an infringement on human rights. Anyway here’s the article, I’m interested to see what you lot have to say about it.
Schools let loose the dogs in war on drugs
By Richard Ford, Home Correspondent
DOGS are visiting at least 100 secondary schools in England and Wales to search pupils for drugs, particularly cannabis. In some areas a private security firm is providing dogs and handlers to check children.
Although they are more used to working in pubs and clubs, the dogs are a regular feature of school life. The rapid rise in their use comes three months after the Department for Education and Skills sent guidance to head teachers saying that schools were within their rights to use sniffer dogs but should exercise extreme caution in case it leads to “labelling” that might be damaging to pupils.
Sniffer dogs are viewed by some head teachers and governors as a softer option than random drug tests. Most searches are carried out by police, but the dogs and handlers of Grosvenor International Services operate in 14 Oxfordshire schools. Kent, Staffordshire and Buckinghamshire are three other counties where police drug dogs visit schools. The Heart of England secondary school in Solihull has used dogs twice to search the bags and coats of pupils.
Annette Croft, the head teacher, said that there had been unease among some pupils when they were lined up to be sniffed by the dogs. She told Druglink magazine that the exercise was “a very mellow, humane and civilised response to the threat of drugs”.
Parents were asked to sign a letter of consent to the searches, which is usual in most schools where dogs are used. Any pupils who do not consent are searched by hand. Only four pupils were picked out, including one who provided information about cannabis smoking on the school bus.
There are concerns about allowing dogs into schools. Some teachers fear that it risks creating distrust between pupils and driving drug problems underground. Emma Balchin, a schools drug adviser in Wolverhampton, told Druglink that often the use of dogs was one way that a school could show worried parents that it was taking a hard line.
The Home Office said last night that the number of arrests for cannabis possession has fallen since the drug was reclassified this year.
Ministers said that the move was “encouraging” but they were unable to produce any figures to back up the claim.
May-18-2004 15:56
Az
took me all the way back
Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Walking to John O'Groats for some spastics
they should just deal pills then
sniffer dogs can't smell them
May-18-2004 16:02
swisstoni
shiiiizzle tiny tiiiizzle
Registered: May 2003
Location: messy in sheffy
hrmmmm..not sure about this. kids shouldn't really have cannabis on them at school, just like fags. if they can deter it from getting into the play grounds, i sorta think they should do what they can. but then, because i am so ashamed of this government, i think it is an infringement. but thats typical of any left wing government quite honestly. if you want to vote left, this is inevitable.
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May-18-2004 16:35
Ste
Planet Zogg Addict
Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Outer Dementia
yeh i posted the article on the drugs tests a while ago.
however this is different, i think you are stupid if you take drugs into school, probably those who do are scummy raggers or idiots anyway (they were at mine). but it is an infringment, but i cant disagree with it because well, the reason istated above
but drugs tests are bad because its up to the person themself what they do outside of shcool. IMO
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Fave Tune at the Moment: Mesmerizer - Taking Control
While I do agree, you are stupid if you take drugs into school, but using sniffer dogs to root them out? Jesus Christ that’s obscene. This doesn’t at all show a hard line approach, it shows an inability to grasp the realities of a problem and deal with it in a sensible way. I mean, what happens to kids who get found with something, are they expelled?
May-19-2004 12:43
tu_face
No Known Cure...
Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Sheffield, UK
i will be the first to admit, i have taken cannabis to school many times. it isn't the right thing to do, just like drinking at school isn't.. if you are going to do that kind of stuff then it should be out of school hours (i was naughty).
but at the same time, i think its dogshit that they think they need to do this.. i mean the problem in a particular school must be really bad for it to get to this..?
with regards to the drugs tests, if they are going to do that, then why don't they breathalise you when you walk into school..?
its ridiculous, alcohol is more of a problem in teenagers than drugs.
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MUGGETS
May-19-2004 15:25
magnasoma
TSN - The Gamemaster
Registered: Mar 2003
Location: London
i kinda agree with toni. i mean if i wanted to smoke weed at that age i wouldn't be doing it at school, and i wouldn't be carrying at school either.
what's wrong with keeping that out of the playground?
To be honest, i think it is all part of growing up experimenting with cannibis and it does not mean you will go on2 bigger things. The Government should stop wasting time and money catching little kids with say an eigth of dope, instead why dont they spend the money on catching the suppliers of the large amounts instead of ruining childrens lives by givin em drugs records(in some cases) 4 a bit of marajuana.
May-19-2004 17:54
swisstoni
shiiiizzle tiny tiiiizzle
Registered: May 2003
Location: messy in sheffy
quote:
Originally posted by Alena18uk
To be honest, i think it is all part of growing up experimenting with cannibis and it does not mean you will go on2 bigger things. The Government should stop wasting time and money catching little kids with say an eigth of dope, instead why dont they spend the money on catching the suppliers of the large amounts instead of ruining childrens lives by givin em drugs records(in some cases) 4 a bit of marajuana.
no, i disagree. does that mean we should allow 13 year olds into school with a bottle of vodka too? no way. school is for learning, what tax payers pay money towards. if they want to smoke it, thats another issue, do it in their own time, not whilst they are supposed to be at school learning to read and write
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May-19-2004 18:05
Alena18uk
tranceaddict in training
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Swansea
I took pot in2 school with me a copuple of times but never smoked it there just 2 scared 2 leave it at home incase my parents found it lol I understand what ur sayin but normally its just a phase i ound it does not continue throughout school!
May-19-2004 18:12
swisstoni
shiiiizzle tiny tiiiizzle
Registered: May 2003
Location: messy in sheffy
quote:
Originally posted by Alena18uk
I took pot in2 school with me a copuple of times but never smoked it there just 2 scared 2 leave it at home incase my parents found it lol I understand what ur sayin but normally its just a phase i ound it does not continue throughout school!
thats really cool you know people that have had a 'phase' with it. its unusal in my experience...
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May-19-2004 18:25
Az
took me all the way back
Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Walking to John O'Groats for some spastics
quote:
Originally posted by swisstoni
thats really cool you know people that have had a 'phase' with it. its unusal in my experience...
I can't believe this!
Courtesy of PISE & the Ravin' Beauties
I understand what ur sayin but normally its just a phase i ound it does not continue throughout school!
