Student arrested at Bendigo school amid police drug probe
A 16-YEAR-OLD student has been dramatically arrested in a teacher’s office at a Bendigo private school over a number of drug offences.
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A BOY, 16, has been dramatically arrested at a school in Bendigo over a number of drug offences.
The Girton Grammar community has been rocked following the incident on Friday, with the student interviewed by police as part of an ongoing investigation.
“He was interviewed in relation to a number of drug offences and allowed to leave pending further inquiries,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
The school confirmed today that the student has been expelled and was arrested in a teacher’s office on Friday.
Five other students are being questioned by staff over drug use off-campus and are not at school today.
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Parents wrote to the Herald Sun describing a “sophisticated drug dealing syndicate” which they believed had been operating for a “considerable” amount of time among Year 10 students.
“Students and staff were shocked when police entered the school grounds and arrested a student on or very near to school property ...,” the email read.
The anonymous parents said they were “very concerned” that students have been dealing and using drugs at school, Girton events and parties.
They said that they had to hear about it from their children rather than the school in the first instance, and accused them trying to cover it up.
“Parent groups are expressing concern at the shocking knowledge that drugs have been easily obtainable on school grounds and at school events and are tremendously concerned that the use of illegal substances puts the safety and well-being of all students, and staff, at risk,” they wrote.
They said that Girton Grammar students had attended a compulsory drug and alcohol education session in Year 9.
“Parents invest a lot to buy their children a good education and to be educated in a school with a strong culture. However paying high fees does not necessarily prevent students from illegal behaviour that is detrimental to themselves and others.”
Headmaster Matthew Maruff said the school was aware that the arrest was going to happen and co-operated fully with police.
Mr Maruff said the school had no knowledge of a drug syndicate linked to the arrest.
“This incident is a shock to our School Community, which is usually a harmonious and safe
place of learning,” he said.
“No school is immune to the possibility of drugs circulating amongst students and we are
working with police to make sure that this incident is quickly isolated.
“This matter now is squarely in the hands of the police so detail about the actual offence or the student involved cannot be divulged by the school.
“What I can say is that we are shocked by this incident and that Girton Grammar School takes a zero tolerance stance when it comes to anything to do with illegal drugs.
“We have a duty of care to our students to make sure that school is a safe place to be so any illegal activity of any kind at the School is unacceptable.”
A school spokeswoman denied suggestions the expelled student had received previous warnings over drugs.
She said the other pupils were not being questioned by police.