Dog searches a school for drugs

Police drug dogs were used to search a New Plymouth school after three students were caught smoking cannabis.

The year 9 Sacred Heart Girls' College students were in uniform when they were caught with the drugs last month, but it was out of school hours and off the school grounds.

The girls were suspended from the school for seven days but have since returned with special conditions.

Police used sniffer dogs to search the school on March 31, at the school's request. No drugs were found.

The random search shocked many students at the Catholic school.

Sacred Heart Girls' College board of trustees chairman Robin Brockie said he was disappointed the girls had been smoking cannabis.

"They have let themselves down and, yes, they have let the school down," Mr Brockie said. "I think that we have concerns about lots of things and that [drug use] is one of them."

He said police drug dogs were used to search the school at least once a year.

"Police dogs periodically come to Taranaki and are used in schools.

"We're trying to reinforce with the students the rules about not having it and that is one way of doing it."

Students had to leave their belongings in classrooms while the dogs searched. They were then returned to their classrooms where they had to stay for three hours while the rest of the school was searched.

"I'm sure some of them [students] were quite surprised.

"It is not a normal day at school."

Mr Brockie would not say if the boarding hostels were searched or what conditions had been placed on the three suspended students.

Principal Rose Sawaya told the students of the reason for the search at an assembly a week later.

Senior Sergeant Selwyn Wansbrough would not comment on police involvement in any specific incidents at schools.

"Schools and other organisations are entitled to contact police for advice or assistance and expect police to respect confidences," he said.

Mr Wansbrough said it would depend on the circumstances and seriousness of the case whether a school reported finding students with illegal drugs.

"Schools often liaise with police over such matters. Schools will often deal with such things, without going to court."

Mr Wansbrough said other measures, including police Youth Aid and community police, were used to deal with problems in schools.