Schools use sniffer dogs against drug gangs

SNIFFER dogs are to be brought into six schools in Hampshire to carry out “regular” searches for drugs as teachers attempt to prevent county lines gangs from operating.

The schools have arranged for trained dogs to visit classrooms with police officers at unannounced intervals to step up the fight against drug misuse and illegal substances

Swanmore College, one of the schools involved, said the move comes amid increasing concern about drug use and criminals in county lines organisations exploiting young people.

A spokesman said: “We feel the time has come to conduct regular drugs searches. This is a proactive step to ensure that the menace of drugs trading, exploitation and dependency is not brought to our school site and this, in turn, supports the wider community.”

The drugs search scheme is in partnership with five other secondary schools – the Hamble School, Thornden School, Toynbee School, Wildern School and Wyvern College.

The News, a local paper in

Portsmouth,

reported that Swanmore head teacher Kyle Jonathan wrote to parents stating: “We review our safeguarding practices regularly, and we feel the time has come, as part of our education and awareness package about drugs for young people, to conduct regular drugs searches.

“I would like to reassure you that if the animal takes an interest in any young person or adult on site, the matter will be dealt with discreetly, out of the sight and hearing of others. Senior staff will be in attendance at all times.”