DOGGED SEARCHES AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL

Police drug dogs are invited into about 75% of schools in Otago and
Southland each year, but rarely find anything.

Dunedin police dog section head Sergeant Trevor Bolt could not recall
the last time anything was found but said it was a "minuscule amount
of cannabis".

"We rarely find anything in the schools."

The team offered its services to secondary schools and it was up to
them to take up the offer. Schools retained control over what happened
if drugs were found, he said.

Drug-dog handler Constable Laurie McNeill described his work as
"providing a service to schools to enhance their drug-free policies".

He believed that by going into schools, he opened pupils up to talking
about drugs with staff, counsellors and police.

Kavanagh College principal Paul Ferris invited a drug dog into the
school "to remind kids we are vigilant about it [drugs]".

His school took a proactive stance on drugs and many pupils and
parents contacted him directly if they suspected drugs were on school
grounds or an issue for a pupil.

"Ninety-nine percent of the kids appreciate that they know they will
be in a safe place at school. I need to keep it as safe as I can."

He had never seen drugs in his school but knew they had been
present.

East Otago High School regularly invited a drug dog to the school as a
"preventive measure", principal Rick Geerlofs said. No drugs had been
found during his time at the school.

Dogs were not brought in because of suspicion, but teenagers had a
tendency to be "inquisitive" and "experiment" with drugs and alcohol,
and it was important to keep them safe.