Jamboree drug shame as eight scouts sent home

EIGHT scouts have been sent home from a world gathering after one was charged with supplying cannabis and another with possession of the drug.

The international gathering of scouts began in Blair Atholl, Perthshire, last week and is open to 14 to 17-year-olds from around the world.

It brings together more than 1,500 explorer scouts and leaders for a ten-day camp and a range of activities including mountain biking, kayaking and climbing.

But scout leaders called in police after spotting some of the children with the drug.

One 16-year-old Scot has now been charged with supplying controlled drugs and a 17-year-old from the US has been charged with possession of drugs, understood to have been cannabis.

Police officers were called to the event on Thursday in the grounds of Blair Castle

A spokesman said: ‘Police Scotland can confirm that it attended at an international scout jamboree event in Blair Atholl in response to a report of drugs offences.

‘After inquiries were conducted, a 17-year-old male was charged and given a Recorded Police Warning for possession of controlled drugs, and a 16-year-old male was charged and is to be reported for supplying controlled drugs.’

The teenagers were sent home from the camp along with six other scouts.

A source said: ‘They were spotted near the trees by a leader who knew something was going on and the drugs were found.

‘They called in police and kept them in the centre of the camp until officers arrived. It’s not what scouting is about and most of the others think they are fools.’

The huge gathering of teenagers from across the globe is the world’s oldest continually held ‘Jamborette’ with an impressive 72-year history.

The event at Blair Atholl is unique in that every district in Scotland is represented and scouts camp in mixed-country leaderless patrols, providing an opportunity to get to know other scouts from around the world.

It has been held every two years since 1946 in the grounds of Blair Castle, apart from 1962, with around 1,600 youngsters taking part this year.

Scottish scouts representing every district and region in the country are paired with counterparts from as far afield as Japan, Zambia and Canada.

Also taking part are scouts from far-flung countries including Iceland, Hong Kong and the US. After the event concludes on Friday, overseas scouts are offered hospitality for up to five days in the homes of Scottish scouts.

The idea of the Jamborette came after the International Commissioner for Scotland, Jack Stewart, felt that a smaller gathering of scouts from all over the world would be of more lasting benefit than a large World Jamboree.

The plan worked well and it was decided that a Jamborette would be held every two years.

A spokesman from Scouts Scotland said: ‘We can confirm that eight scouts have been sent home from the Blair Atholl Jamborette. Scouts Scotland has a zero tolerance policy on narcotics use and this matter has been reported to Police Scotland.’

‘It’s not what scouting is about’