Plymouth police and teachers vow to seize mephedrone
SCHOOL pupils in Plymouth will not be given back a dangerous 'legal' drug if it is seized from them, say both police and education chiefs.
Despite national reports claiming teachers would be forced to hand back seized packets of mephedrone at the final bell, Plymouth police and the vice-chair of the Association of Secondary Head Teachers in Plymouth, Andy Birkett, have insisted it will not happen here.
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"We already have effective policies to deal with substances found in schools; if we're in any doubt we ask the expert's opinion," said Mr Birkett.
"The police have always advised us that if we don't know what we've seized, regardless of what the child tells us, then call the police. We seek to put the child's safety and the safety of the school first and will hand over such items to police.
"As far as we're concerned, nothing has changed. We'll deal with this drug in the same way we always have."
Drug liaison officer Det Con Stuart Payne said: "The advice we have given schools is if they seize a suspected item, then they can give it to us to deal with.
"The school may wish to deal with the matter in-house or they may wish to tell us who it came from. People should note that current force policy is that those found in possession of the suspect powder will be arrested.
"It should be remembered that samples of mephedrone we have already seized have been mixed with controlled drugs, including cocaine and amphetamine, or legal drugs such as benzocaine, which is used by dentists. It emphasises that you don't know what you're taking."
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Constabulary also poured cold water on the national press's line, saying: "If the seized drugs are found to be mephedrone no charges will follow under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but it's possible that other charges, such as those under the Intoxicating Substances Act 1985, could be brought. If the substance is identified as mephedrone the force will retain and destroy the product."
Dave Schwartz, speaking on behalf of the Plymouth Children and Young People's Trust and the Drug and Alcohol Action Team in Plymouth, said the deaths of two young men in Scunthorpe earlier this week were 'tragic events' but urged caution as to the true cause.
"There reports that these deaths were related to the use of a range of drugs, including alcohol," Mr Schwartz said.
"Only when we have access to the official reports into the cause of these deaths will we know why they took place."
He said multi-agency work involving the NHS, police, the city council and other organisations was under way to deal with the increasing use of mephadrone.
"As with any emerging drug trend, we need to be vigilant," he said. "We must understand and respond to its potential harms by using evidence about its prevalence, the science in respect to how it affects the people who use it and through understanding local need and experiences."
A briefing pack had already been sent to professionals in the city, including GPs and youth workers, and a briefing for professionals would take place in a fortnight to determine what action was needed to address the use and impact of mephedrone.
For more information about mephedrone or other drugs, contact Harbour Drug and Alcohol Services using 434343 if an adult or 434295 if a young person.
32 Comments
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by C Moon, North Hams
Saturday, March 20 2010, 8:44AM
“...another interesting point to ponder......How is the MCat 'epidemic' affecting other drug saled (you know the ILLEGAL ones) - Speed, Coke, E that sort of thing. One would imagine sales are on a rather downward slope for these as Mcat is readily available....bit of a conundrum for the lawreally, not so much 'illegal' drugs on the street......they can then concentrate on solving proper crimes...wonder if we shall see a 'blip' in the crime figures when this lovely little experiment is over.”
by anon, plymouth
Friday, March 19 2010, 10:36PM
“dave sat in front of your pc. I totally agree with everything you have said. especially about our country and the money we give to everyone else. But should a harmfull substance be given back to skool kids???”
by The Locksmith, Barbican
Friday, March 19 2010, 7:56PM
“Only a fool would take something they bought off the internet!! At least buying legalised drugs like alcohol and tobacco from a legitimate outlet, you are pretty sure of the source and content. Any uncontrolled and unidentified drug should be considered potentially lethal until proven otherwise and any school official would be negligent in their duty if they did not confiscate it.”
by r, plymouth
Friday, March 19 2010, 7:16PM
“Dave PC the Police can seize the substance under section 23 misuse of drugs act and get it tested this will take 6-8 weeks and also ruin what has been seized (shame) remember the person selling this could quite easily be cutting it with cocaine or other substances to get a new client base!!!!!! You never know what you are buying”
by simon, plymouth
Friday, March 19 2010, 7:12PM
“It is quite simple really, if the kids are caught with this or any other drug then kick them out. If their parents complain then you did the right thing by kicking them out. Anything that affects a childs education should be banned which means a lot of parents should be kicked into touch. This city is full of good families and kids but let down by the scum around them. Plymouth people stand up for your city and drive the scum out. Have a nice weekend.”
by paul, mutley
Friday, March 19 2010, 7:03PM
“Legal or ilegal, surely it should not be in a school anyway. Also,as it is marked " unfit for human consumtion" would make the fact that it is marketed as a legal high as a statement of false advertising and there are laws against that. And when or where was it "trialed for public use" So come on legal eagles, it's against the law in so many ways get it off the streets.”
by Chemistry Teacher, High!
Friday, March 19 2010, 6:45PM
“I will collect them and ...Yeah....ok.. so what
innit”
by Benny Factor, Lisbon.
Friday, March 19 2010, 4:31PM
“It's coming up to an election, it's time for a 'moral panic'. Let's make some hastily prepared legislation that will have unforeseen circumstances later. After all, this government have made a new offence for each day they have been in power. The more we criminalise citizens, the better. They can't be trusted to make their own choices.
The best way to get rid of this new drug? Legalise Ecstasy and have done with it. It's very safe. Much safer than rugby or horse riding which we encourage people to participate in.”
by Who am i?, Were am i?
Friday, March 19 2010, 3:32PM
“C.Moon well said my friend.”
by C Moon, North Hams
Friday, March 19 2010, 2:55PM
“I don't really see how you could know me or 'my family' being an only child and not frequenting Union Street, think you must have me confused with someone else...
..as for 'growing up' - i'm 'grown up' enough not to delude myself that tobacco and Alchohol which wreak havoc in our society both physically and emotionally are both 'legal' drugs......but i'm also 'grown up' enough to realise that they are as likely to be made 'illegal' as cocaine is to be 'legal', not a politician in the land would vote for it for fear of the armchair experts from the home counties.”