The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Two charged with drug offences at Scout camp
Eight sent home after police called to international event in Perthshire
A group of Scouts at an international event in Perthshire have been sent home after two teenagers were charged with drug offences.
Officials at the camp have banished eight Scouts from the Blair Atholl Jamborette.
A 16-year-old from Scotland is to be reported for supplying an illicit substance, believed to be cannabis. A 17-year-old from the US has been given a police warning for possession of drugs.
Four other Scots and two Europeans were also sent home from the camp.
Authorities have not revealed where they are from in their respective countries.
Police confirmed they were called to the massive site at Blair Castle following a report of suspicious behaviour.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “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.”
A spokeswoman for 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.”
A source at the campsite told The Times: “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 36th meeting of the jamborette, which is scheduled to finish on Friday, welcomed around 2,000 Scouts from 21 countries – including members from Perth and Kinross, Tayside and Fife.
Despite the controversy, organisers have not been put off hosting future events. Andrew Bruce Wootton, general manager of Atholl Estates, owns the land for the jamborette meetings at Blair Atholl.
“It’s not what Scouting is about and most of the others think they are fools
He said: “The Scout chiefs are incredibly competent at running this event and it is amazing to witness.
“While it is regrettable what has happened, these things can happen occasionally and it won’t have any impact on our future work with the Scouts.
“The camp is self-directed by the Scouts officials, so I am only aware of what has been going on through word of mouth.
“I am sure the camp leaders have reacted professionally.
“The way that they work is great to see, it is like a military operation.
“The Scouts that take part do camping proud with how they behave in and around our grounds. Over the years they have done a lot of jobs, including many environmental benefits for the area.”
The Blair Atholl Jamborette began in 1946 and is the only event of its kind in the world. Jamborettes are the smaller version of a scout jamboree, the biggest of which hosted 40,000 people in Sweden in 2011.