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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Two schools launch drugs crackdown
Oldham Advertiser
Thursday 17 Aug 2006 TWO Oldham schools will introduce testing in the new term to monitor and stamp out drug abuse among pupils. Both the, as yet, unnamed schools have ordered D4D aerosol swab test kits costing £195 which detect residue left behind by cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and LSD on walls, desks and toilets, and have booked visits from sniffer dogs. A third school is also considering following their example. At this stage the schools are not looking at testing individual pupils, however, and will concentrate on public locations, fixtures and fittings. All three schools attended a meeting at the offices of Crackdown Drug Testing, a Saddleworth-based firm who work with police on drugs initiatives. But the schools claim the move is motivated by the need to show they have a pro-active drug education and detection policy. An unnamed teacher from one school said: "There are obviously concerns from our point of view as some people may think we have a drug problem, but we don’t – what we want is to be seen to be taking a sensible, proactive approach to drugs and drug education." He added: "The test kits will be used for intelligence gathering and will be kept on standby in the school in case of any suspected drug-related incidents. "We will not be using them every week to test walls and cloakrooms though if we feel we can use them to gather information they may well be used in this way from time to time." Nick Hudson, Oldham’s assistant director of children, young people and families, said: "If individual schools decide that it is in the best interests of their pupils to introduce some form of drug testing then providing the decision is agreed by the school’s governing body and it is introduced sympathetically the authority will support this decision." A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "We are obviously aware that drugs do find their way into schools, but Oldham schools are no worse than any others in the area. "Our school liaison officers are very active and conduct regular sessions on drug awareness and the dangers of drugs in Oldham schools." First published by the Oldham Advertiser http://www.oldhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/216/216415_two_schools_launch_drugs_crackdown.html
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