Wednesday April 20, 03:18 PM
Press Association
Schools are being urged to introduce sniffer dogs to stop pupils using drugs, following a successful pilot scheme that has the backing of most parents and children.
Researchers found the use of dogs at six Buckinghamshire secondary schools was "very successful" at detecting and preventing drugs coming into the classroom.
Criminologists at the John Grieve Centre for Policing and Community Safety have recommended that local education authorities adopt the programme after carrying out an independent study.
During the programme, dogs searched buildings and classrooms and were stationed inside school gates to detect whether pupils were carrying drugs or had come into contact with them.
David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "Although heads don't like to go on the record about incidents of drugs, the reality is that many secondary schools do have a problem. You will find certainly drug possession, drug consumption and even drug dealing taking place in the majority of secondary schools in this country."
But Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights campaign group Liberty, attacked the tendency to turn schools into US-style "penal establishments".
"It's a sad indictment of our society when we have so little respect for our young people that we treat them like convicted criminals," she said.
Professor Allyson MacVean, who led the study, said sniffer dogs should be introduced as part of every school's anti-drugs strategy.
A study by Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College found most pupils (82%), parents (98%) and staff (92%) were in favour of the use of dogs.
Professor MacVean said the response had been "tremendous".
She said the scheme focused on treating pupils found with drugs as children who were "at risk", rather than young offenders.
You must have visited one of our local 'Senior' schools 