Sniffer dogs to be used on pupils dealing drugs

SNIFFER dogs will be sent into schools to catch pupils dealing ketamine, a council has announced.

The crackdown follows a report that revealed dealers approached young children at parks in the New Forest offering them the Class B substance. The report said children as young as 11 were offered the drug, which is used as a horse tranquilliser.

Police have teamed up with all 13 secondary schools and colleges in the area to reduce drug crime. Sniffer dogs will be taken into schools by handlers on a regular basis as part of the Hampshire Safe initiative.

Di Roberts, principal of Brockenhurst College, said: “Although none of our schools and colleges have a serious problem with drug misuse, we are determined to keep it that way.”