‘Pupils smoking cannabis’
Police patrols after complaints of drug use before school
POLICE are to patrol the area of two colleges in Loughborough following complaints from residents of students smoking cannabis before school in the morning.
County Councillor Max Hunt told the Echo that he had received complaints from residents in his Loughborough North West ward that their children had to walk through clouds of smoke as students had been smoking cannabis near to Charnwood College and De Lisle College.
One complainant told Coun Hunt that they were unable to identify which school the students were from, but that they were in school uniform.
Coun Hunt said that a complainant had told him that their child had seen young people in school uniforms smoking illegal substances between 8.15am and 8.30am during the week near the old railway track in Loughborough between Thorpe Hill and Clowbridge Drive.
POLICE are to patrol the area of two colleges in Loughborough following complaints from residents of students smoking cannabis before school in the morning.
County Councillor Max Hunt told the Echo that he had received complaints from residents in his Loughborough North West ward that their children had to walk through clouds of smoke as students had been smoking cannabis near to Charnwood College and De Lisle College.
One complainant told Coun Hunt that they were unable to identify which school the stu- dents were from, but that they were in school uniform.
Coun Hunt said that a complainant had told him that their child had seen young people in school uniforms smoking illegal substances between 8.15am and 8.30am during the week near the old railway track in Loughborough between Thorpe Hill and Clowbridge Drive.
The same person had also said that groups had been smoking drugs between the Garendon Club and Gracedieu Road.
Coun Max Hunt told the Echo: “Several residents have complained to me about students smoking dope before school in the area.
“They have said to me that they have children that have had to walk through the smoke as they are passing through the area in the morning.
“I would like to say that I haven’t smelt it myself, but I am reflecting the concerns of the people in my area and they are incredibly offended by students smoking cannabis.”
One parent who has a child at a school in the area told the Echo: “I wouldn’t be surprised if they were smoking it (cannabis) around here, it is just difficult to catch them.”
A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: “Local officers have been tasked to patrol in the vicinity of two colleges in Loughborough.
“Anyone with information about drug use in the area is encouraged to call 101 and report their concerns in order for enquiries to be carried out.”
Mark Sutton, principal at Charnwood College said: “Since being notified of Mr Hunt’s concerns about the possibility of young people smoking, staff from our college and neighbouring schools have endeavoured to increase our monitoring of the area concerned.
“While we do not believe these young people are from our school, we thank Mr Hunt for raising the issue.”
The Echo contacted De Lisle College but it did not wish to comment.