Schoolyard security wanted near North Richmond supervised drug-injection room

PARENTS say allowing ice users to shoot up next to their kids at Richmond West Primary School is “slightly insane”. Some will consider removing their children from the school.

PARENTS have called for schoolyard security to protect their kids from addicts who are now being invited to shoot up the deadly drug ice at the neighbouring supervised-injection facility in North Richmond.

The Herald Sun can reveal some are considering pulling their kids out of the primary school in response to the Andrews government’s recent backflip to allow methamphetamine use at the site.

Richmond West Primary School parents, the majority of whom previously supported the centre, are now divided over the plan, with some calling for it to relocated away from the school.

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Richmond West Primary School is next to the medically-supervised injection centre. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Drug users shoot up in the area while police speak to others in the background. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Parent Neil Mallet said allowing ice users to shoot up near young kids was “slightly insane”.

“The injection room will bring a greater density of users into the area. Ice makes the situation even worse and poses a greater risk of dangerous behaviour,” he said.

He declared the area was not “safe” for his sons, who are no longer allowed to walk to school alone.

“We are jumping at shadows at the moment. It’s shocking,” he said.

Petitions calling for the relocation of the medically-supervised injection facility have been plastered on posts and letterboxes surrounding the school.

David, who did not provide a surname, objected to drug use “of any kind” near the school, and suggested the schoolgates be manned to protect kids.

“The school is going to have security issues and will need to get someone on the gates.”

Local mum, Rebecca, said: “We received no notification about this (ice use) at all. It’s been done in stealth and we are just appalled.”

David called for security at the schoolgates. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Local mum Rebecca said the community was not notified about changes to allow ice use at the facility. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A parent whose son recently found a syringe on school grounds is considering removing both his children from the school.

“It doesn’t feel particularly safe,” he said.

Acting principal Jenny Deeble said the school maintained strong support for the centre.

“We remain confident that the new facility will have a positive impact on our school and the surrounding area by reducing the visibility of drug use and associated anti-social behaviours,” she said.

“We have a great relationship with the operators of the local health service who are keeping us up-to-date with the work being done to establish the facility.”

Other parents told the Herald Sun their children could benefit from safe exposure to drug addicts.

Undercover police with binoculars outside Richmond West Primary School. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“We have people walking around on ice already. I think children need to see this sort of thing. It gives them a perspective check,” another parent, Tara, said.

The state government injecting-room regulations, released quietly last week, backflipped to allow any drug of dependence such as ice, speed and other amphetamines to be used in small quantities at the site.

Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said the government had reneged on its promised ban of the substances based on expert advice that most clients were likely to be ‘poly-drug’ users.

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@AneekaSimonis