Drugs dog called to sniff out 2,000 school pupils
TEN police officers with a sniffer dog swooped on a secondary school and searched 2,000 pupils amid drug rumours.
The operation was carried out at Ivybridge Community College last Friday but no illegal substances were found.
The squad of officers, along with teachers and a sniffer dog, were involved in the unannounced mass search.
A city MP last night praised the school for taking "swift action".
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Police Sergeant John Livingstone, neighbourhood team leader for Ivybridge, said: "I got a call from the deputy principal about the concerns that had been raised by parents that drugs would be going into the college last Friday.We got hold of a drugs dog, which stood in the gateway to school, and officers were at the other entrance.We wanted to show that the college and police are working together."
Sgt Livingstone added: "If we had informed parents it would serve no purpose and the principal and deputy principal didn't tell the teachers. I also only told the officers who would be at the college. We will be working closely with Ivybridge Community College in the future."
It is the second time a search has been carried out at the school recently. The first, last year, led to a student being permanently excluded.
South West Devon MP Gary Streeter said: "Ivybridge Community College has zero tolerance and rightly so. I'm sure parents will be pleased with the swift action that was taken. It is a worry but it just goes to show nowhere is free from the worry of drugs. It affects everywhere, and action is necessary everywhere."
The college declined to comment.
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