PRINCIPAL WANTS STIFFER DRUG PENALTIES FOR TEENS

A school principal who has disciplined eight pupils in the past three
weeks for drug offences says the law is not tough enough when it comes
to teenage offenders.

Paraparaumu College principal Richard Campbell said that despite
action taken against pupils who brought drugs to school the message
was not getting through.

Most pupils caught with drugs on school grounds were disciplined by
their school and usually referred to police youth aid.

"Some people would say they [14- to 16-year-olds] are not sure what
they're doing. Well, I would say they are sure. There needs to be the
ability ... through the police and judicial system to deal with them
more severely," Mr Campbell said.

He said many people felt pupils caught with drugs, particularly older
students, were "getting away lightly".

But he did not think school-age drug offenders should have a record
that stayed with them for life.

The school worked closely with police to keep drugs out of school, and
had been shocked by the eight students involved in marijuana offences
in the past three weeks.

The school's board of trustees had excluded three pupils, expelled one
who was aged over 16, and suspended four.

One of the four suspended pupils had decided not to
return.

When the other three suspended pupils returned to school they would be
under close watch, undergo drug counselling and testing through the
WellTrust counselling programme.

All were referred to police youth aid.

Kapiti Senior Sergeant Mike Coleman said that to a certain extent
consequences for young people involved with drugs were discretionary
and decided case by case.

"There's no hard and fast policy on it. Some kids are trying drugs,
others are pretty well into them."

Police handling of drug matters depended on the offenders' attitude
and level of involvement.

WellTrust executive director Pauline Gardiner said there needed to be
more consequences for students caught with drugs.

"Schools need some support. They can't be expected to do it all on
their own."

Commissioner for Children spokesman Rod Davis said there were measures
available to deal with the broad range of drug offences.

Harsher punishment was not required.

Being referred to youth aid should not be seen as a "soft
option".

Education Ministry figures for 2001 show drugs led to 1415 secondary
and 140 primary suspensions.