HEAD CALLS IN SNIFFER DOG FOR DRUGS HUNT

The headmaster of a comprehensive in an affluent suburb of Manchester
brought a sniffer dog into the school in an attempt to end drug dealing
among pupils.

John Peckham, of Bramhall High School, in Stockport, recruited the
UKP35-a-day dog and handler to check cloakrooms, changing rooms and
playground areas.

The pair uncovered two 15-year-old pupils in possession of cannabis. They
were suspended but not expelled in the action, which was meant as a warning
to the 1,450 pupils that drugs will not be tolerated.

The headmaster went ahead with what is believed to be the first such action
of its kind, knowing that the Stockport education authority was
apprehensive about the action.

Mr Peckham emphasised that the use of dogs was only part of a comprehensive
anti-drugs message to his pupils. He insisted that the school did not have a
significant drugs problem.

He approached governors and parents before hiring Steve Warren, who runs
Sovereign Specialised Security, based in Macclesfield, and his dog, Scuba.
Lessons were unaffected as the dog hunted for drugs around the public areas
of the school, including the perimeter fence. Pupils have been given a
warning that there may be further raids.

Mr Peckham said: "As far as I know, we are the only school to go down this
road. We thought about it long and hard and we thought it was the right
thing to do. Ninety per cent of our pupils would not dream of dabbling with
illegal drugs. They do not want a school that is associated with that sort
of thing.

"We were aware that there were one or two who felt they could bring cannabis
into school and they thought nobody could do anything about it and we could
not search them.

"Even if we could, 1,500 kids is a lot and it would take a long time. They
thought they were immune. They thought they could walk around and nobody
could do anything about it."

Mr Peckham has not had to expel a pupil in his three years at the school.
However, he said that drugs were an issue for every school in the country.

"We have no more and no less of a problem than most other schools," he said.
"The more you can do to address the problem, the better. Kids do things that
are foolish, but by having these searches we are providing another weapon in
the armouries of those who want to say no to drugs."

Max Hunt, Stockport's chief education officer, said: "We were apprehensive
about the use of sniffer dogs. Stockport has been a leader in the field of
drugs education and, since 1992, we have had comprehesive procedures to
support our schools with drugs education and intervention where there is a
problem.

"We told the school we were not too keen on the use of dogs. We think it
might disturb, worry or even frighten younger pupils. However, it is a
matter for the governors and the head teacher of the school to decide."

Mark Hunter, the local authority's education chairman, said that Stockport's
policy of zero tolerance to drugs did not include the use of sniffer dogs.
But he added that it was a matter for the school.

Liberty, the civil rights group, is critical of the initiative. The pressure
group suggests that drugs and alcohol abuse could be treated more
sympathetically with counselling.

A spokesman said: "No one agrees with drug abuse, but there are ways of
helping young people to kick the habit. The school's approach is not the
answer. We would expect community relations to suffer as a result between
young people, the police and the school."

Scuba, a golden labrador, is usually used to look for drugs in nightclubs
around the Macclesfield area.