A school in the county of Dorset has informed the parents of its pupils that the school will “periodically” inspect the children’s bags and will also bring in a drug-sniffing dog in an effort to “protect them from the dangers of illicit drugs.”
Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne sent out a letter notifying parents that they had decided to close because of “county lines” stories that had been making headlines. Students at Queen Elizabeth’s School are taught about the hazards of illegal substances in assemblies and via the Curriculum for Life programs, according to a letter they received from the school’s principal.
One day during the week of July 4, 2022, a drugs-sniffing canine will be on hand in light of recent news reports regarding ‘county lines.’ A number of schools in the area have also adopted this method.
A secure, drug-free, and healthy environment for all kids to study and grow is a priority and represents the community’s values and expectations, according to the letter. “It is with these goals in mind that we are undertaking this procedure.” “Your son or daughter will have had this explained to them by their tutor prior to the visit to prepare them.”
According to the letter, the sniffer dog would be accompanied by a “expert handler” and a police officer. The dog will visit every class and hang out in common areas like the library and front desk.
In the event of any issue, the dog will alert his handler. The student’s parents would then be notified if more inquiry was necessary.
Every few weeks, we’ll also be conducting bag searches to verify that no prohibited drugs like cigarettes and vape pens are in the school’s possession.
It comes as the school has built a new barrier, with one parent asking if the “huge security fences” and sniffer dogs were essential.
Katie Boyes, headteacher of QE School, said: “It is important to state that the use of a dog is not in reaction to an incident and there is not a drug problem at QE School.” “We want to make the school as safe as possible and like other local schools decided to invite a sniffer dog in with its handler. “It is entirely a preventative measure and is designed to help reassure parents that we are doing everything to ensure their children are safe. “The visit of the dog for a few hours is allied to our programme of work that educates the children about the dangers of drugs.
Schools are required to have a fence of this height in order to comply with safeguarding regulations.
