PUPILS SMOKING CANNABIS BEFORE LESSONS

WOODLEY pupils are taking a last gasp before the school bell chimes
by smoking cannabis ahead of morning lessons, a police officer has said.

A group of between three and eight Waingels College boys have been
spotted - or rather smelt - by local police smoking the drug early in
the morning.

Now Woodley's neighbourhood specialist officer PC Jen Banfield has
vowed to up patrols in the area surrounding the Denmark Avenue
secondary school.

PC Banfield said the youngsters taking the drug - which has been
linked to mental health problems - were aged between 13 and 15.

Stressing the number of children smoking marijuana was a minority,
she told the Evening Post: "We have got a very small group of boys,
aged between 13 and 15, smoking cannabis.

"We do not want them to do it anywhere in Woodley, but we especially
do not want them to do it around the school area and close to Waingels.

"Waingels does not have a cannabis problem, but there are between
three and eight boys smoking cannabis before and after school in
alleyways near Waingels."

Members of the public have contacted PC Banfield and her
neighbourhood team to tell them about the drug taking, but so far
police are yet to catch anyone in the act.

PC Banfield said: "I've walked through a group of boys and smelt
cannabis, but am yet to catch anyone smoking it.

"A number of patrols have been carried out targeting students before
and after school hours who are in uniform and smoking, drinking or
using cannabis.

"Youths are being stop-checked and dealt with robustly if caught
offending. The local Neighbourhood Watch has also been involved in this."

Woodley Town Council member Coling Lawley, from the Southlake North
ward, lives in Farriers Close.

He said: "I certainly heard about this. I understood the police were
down there on Wednesday morning."

Wokingham Borough Council spokeswoman Jenny Coates said: "No pupils
from Waingels College have been arrested for any offences related to
drink or drugs during the recent police patrols in the area targeting students.

"Waingels College takes all matters relating to drink and drugs very
seriously and will not tolerate any illegal activities by students.

"No such activities have been reported to the school following the
recent patrols."