Children caught trafficking drugs at Victorian schools
ICE, ecstasy and cannabis have been seized from pupils as young as 11 as shocking figures reveal the number of Victorian children trafficking drugs on school grounds.
Education
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ALMOST 40 children have been caught dealing drugs at Victorian schools in 2015-17.
Victoria Police investigated nearly 500 drug-related offences on school grounds in that period, two in three of them involving school-aged children.
In eight cases in regional Victoria and the outer suburbs, primary school-aged children were caught with illicit drugs.
VICTORIAN SCHOOLS SWEPT UP IN DRUG EPIDEMIC
SCOTCH STUDENTS SUSPENDED IN DRUGS SCANDAL
Last week, four students at the elite Scotch College were suspended after being caught on campus with marijuana paraphernalia. Now, Victoria Police data obtained by the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information reveals:
MORE than 100 school-aged children a year are investigated for having drugs on the grounds of government, independent and Catholic schools;
AN 11-year-old had drugs at a Hastings school in November;
DRUGS were found on seven kids, aged 12, at Mildura, Rye, Lakes Entrance, Frankston, South Dudley and Sunbury schools;
TWO 13-year-old boys were caught trafficking drugs at a Berwick school, and were charged alongside a man, 41;
ICE was dealt by a 15-year-old at a school in Williamstown;
THREE students, all 16, were busted trafficking ecstasy at their Broadford school;
DRUGS were linked to a pupil, 14, investigated for a Cranbourne school bomb hoax; and
SCHOOL break-ins and thefts were often linked to drugs.
The average age for kids spoken to by police for drug offences at a school was 15, or year 9 level.
Though the number of school drug call-outs has remained at about 150 a year, the average age of child offenders is falling slightly.
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The figures also show schools are being used as a meeting point for adults using or dealing drugs: 11 were caught trafficking drugs on school grounds in three years, bringing the total trafficking cases at schools to 48.
Regional and outer suburbs schools have the highest drug call-outs: Ballarat, Berwick, Bairnsdale, South Dudley and Frankston were the scene of the most police investigations.
Assistant Commissioner Rick Nugent, who said one in 200 drug offences last year were committed on school grounds, said police aimed not to prosecute children for a first offence.
“We need to do more around prevention and treatment and support,” he said.
“Just putting people before the courts all the time, particularly youth, is not helpful, it doesn’t help them deal with it and that’s why we have a diversion program.
The majority of youth drug offences at schools related to the “soft drug” marijuana, but this didn’t give Mr Nugent any comfort.
“There’s clear evidence that use of cannabis in young people leads to mental health problems,” he said.
“The younger you are that you start drinking alcohol or taking drugs, the more likely you might end up with problematic use down the track.
“(But) the majority of kids who try drugs come out the other side.”
Mr Nugent said while drugs had been highlighted in schools, alcohol was the number one substance abuse issue for youth.
A Department of Education spokeswoman said there was “no place for drugs or aggressive behaviour in our schools” and there were response processes in place.
“These include connecting students and families involved with appropriate support agencies, planning for the safety of other students, informing parents and guardians of students involved in incidents, and contacting the police,” she said.
“Drug use can happen alongside other challenging issues in a student’s life.
“Where a student is involved with drugs or exhibits dangerous behaviour they are supported by staff at the school as well as Student Support Services Officers, and other specialist agencies.”
TEN WORST SUBURBS FOR SCHOOL DRUG OFFENCES
Ballarat — 20
Berwick — 14
Bairnsdale — 12
South Dudley — 11
Frankston — 10
Sunbury — 9
Upwey — 9
Boronia — 8
Craigieburn — 8
Hoppers Crossing — 8
Total for 2015, 2016 and 2017
— Figures obtained from Victoria Police under Freedom of Information
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