Class-A drugs seized from hundreds of school children in UK

Drugs have been seized from hundreds of school children across England and Wales, police say.

Children as young as eight have been caught with class-A drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine according to data collected from 34 police forces. The figures span the last four years and detail over 2,000 incidents.

The shocking statistics which were requested under the Freedom of Information Act by the Press Association have been described as only the “tip of the iceberg” by school teachers.

“This is a very sensitive and dangerous subject. I would say that school, authorities mainly and parents secondly are to blame. School and authorities should make sure that their properties like school, education, and colleges especially for youngsters are protected. [Schools] should [also] make sure that there is a checkpoint especially for those schools that they are well-known and famous for drug distribution. We have not yet seen a checkpoint or an intention to fight such behavior at those schools”, Qasim al-Hashimi, a London-based human rights activist told Press TV.

General Secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union, Chris Keates said any incident of drugs at schools is "worrying as it will often only be the tip of the iceberg of what young people are encountering on the streets.

"Teachers and school leaders are always alert to the potential for young people being involved in drug or alcohol abuse."

The news agency called for drug names, value, types of schools and details of who was in possession of the narcotics to be revealed in their query. Reports suggest one quarter of forces approached did not respond to the Press Association’s request.

The obtained information discloses cannabis-related incidents appeared 625 times while cocaine was involved 27 times. LSD, amphetamines and ecstasy were among the other drugs confiscated at schools. Some human rights activists contend the number of cases provided by the police.

“I am not sure about the numbers that have been reported by police. I would really be happy if that is the official number. I believe that the number is double or triple. I believe that the number [2000] doesn't really reflect the fact that students are using such drugs in open space and in front of public”, al-Hashimi said.

Schools in the West Midlands, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Greater Manchester were each found with two cases of Heroin.

Four of the 2,000 incidents involved those under the age of eleven. Cannabis was confiscated from an eight-year-old and a nine-year-old in Staffordshire as well as a 10-year-old in a Leicester primary school. Another 10-year-old was found carrying £5 worth of the drug in Greater Manchester.

A 14-year-old was found with £500 worth of Heroin while a 16-year-old possessed £330 worth of the drug in Greater Manchester.

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