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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

drug search at school

394 replies

hahaRainbow · 13/02/2015 17:43

Is this legal? my ds has come home from school (state comp) where (he says) during a science class, a teacher arrived announcing that 'this is a drug free school and now we are going to have the sniffer dogs in'.

Apparently the kids were then lined up while a dog ran up and down sniffing them and another dog sniffed the classroom.

of course I'm not happy about drugs at school but I do wonder about the legalities of this and what IF a kid had been caught.... am I wrong to be worried?

OP posts:

LynetteScavo · 13/02/2015 19:25

The only issue I can see is if a child is scared of dogs. I'm not scared of dogs, but when the sniffer dogs came into my kitchen after we were burgled I jumped in a stool and called for DH.

Letmeeatcakecakecake · 13/02/2015 19:26

If my sons future secondary school had metal detectors at the entrance, random drug tests, sniffer dogs, electronic register to automatically alert the parents to lateness or lesson absence and locked gates until the end of the school day Id be a very happy mummy. Personally I think secondary schools would be a lot safer that way. (Went to a very very rough secondary and would have loved these to have been implemented when I was there)

Dawndonnaagain · 13/02/2015 19:28

Actually Crystal no I don't. They would know what to do, and have done since they were around 13 or 14.
I have already stated quite clearly that I think drugs are inappropriate in a school setting. It is the principle of being searched without prior warning etc. that I object too. School is an environment in which one is supposed to feel safe and secure, that isn't going to be the case with sniffer dogs and random searches. I have also pointed out that there are children with additional needs in mainstream schools who would be unable to cope with this. My worry is the old Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

CrystalHaze · 13/02/2015 19:29

No, Biscetto - they NEED to give advance warning so that all the kids with illegal drugs on them can nip off and flush them down the bog, otherwise it's a volition of their rights

SoupDragon · 13/02/2015 19:29

Do I give a shit if one of my children is searched without prior notice and without a nominated responsible adult present. Yes.

The children weren't searched.

OddBoots · 13/02/2015 19:32

I think the prior notice is that they are on school premises, a place where they should be safe from illegal substances and the school and police are allowed to enforce that.

Alisvolatpropiis · 13/02/2015 19:33

I don't really see the issue with this and assuming the school crossed their t's and dotted their i's regarding the paperwork I highly doubt the legality of this search could be called into question.

If physical searches had gone thereafter without a parent present (presumably at a police station) then I would understand the concern completely.

Bowlersarm · 13/02/2015 19:34

Great idea.

Ds2 came home a week or so ago and said they were all being drugs tested the next day. It didn't happen, but I would happy if it ever does.

Oakmaiden · 13/02/2015 19:35

I have also pointed out that there are children with additional needs in mainstream schools who would be unable to cope with this.

Who presumably the school are aware of and could thus take action to protect if it was felt this might cause them undue anxiety. Likewise, presumably the school know your daughter carries prescription medicine on her? And therefore it should cause no problem at all.

spacepoppy · 13/02/2015 19:38

They had prior warning - the teacher, someone you nominate as a responsible adult by sending them to school, notified them in class then the search happened which required - i would assume - not one child to be actually touched by dog, handler or any other person involved.

Biscetti · 13/02/2015 19:39

they NEED to give advance warning so that all the kids with illegal drugs on them can nip off and flush them down the bog, otherwise it's a volition of their rights

oh, yeah. Totes forgot about that.

CrystalHaze · 13/02/2015 19:39

Actually Crystal no I don't. They would know what to do, and have done since they were around 13 or 14.

Oh, of course. No child ever took drugs if their parents were utterly sure that it could never possibly happen. Never. No teenager ever did something foolish, without their parents knowledge, due to peer pressure or a moment of weakness.

But as long as you don't give a shit about that, and as long as your kids are 100% guaranteed to never take drugs, the rest of the school will just have to take their chances.

Still, the competitive nature of an unchallenged school drug trade should keep the prices pocket-money friendly, eh?

Paleodad · 13/02/2015 19:39

Totally agree voice
There seems to be an assumption that because it is a school and the kids are under 18 they have no rights. A dangerous precedent.

Oakmaiden · 13/02/2015 19:41

There seems to be an assumption that because it is a school and the kids are under 18 they have no rights. A dangerous precedent.

Of course they have rights. the have the right to be safe at school. They have the right to an education. They have the right to not be offered drugs by some other child in their class...

CrystalHaze · 13/02/2015 19:43

They do have rights, Paleodad - they have the right not to take illegal drugs into school. Upon which they will not be found to be in possession of illegal drugs.

That seems fairly straightforward to me.

Only on AIBU would a school be deemed to BU for trying to deter drugs on the premises.

Alisvolatpropiis · 13/02/2015 19:43

Many employers carry out random drug tests never mind having a sniffer dog pop in.

This is surely just the child friendly version?

As far as I am aware, there is no human right to be a drug dealer, regardless of age. So what rights would have been infringed at this school?

TheRealMaryMillington · 13/02/2015 19:44

It's a school, not a prison.

I would totally object to this.

Lambertsimnel · 13/02/2015 19:45

These are children at school not inmates in a prison. What a dreadful thing for the school to have allowed. If they suspect a particular pupil then they should focus only on that pupil, not subject the entire group to a search with dogs. Total abuse of power by all the adults concerned.

Biscetti · 13/02/2015 19:46

There seems to be an assumption that because it is a school and the kids are under 18 they have no rights. A dangerous precedent.

Of course they have rights. The very definition of a sniffer dog, is to, you know, sniff. The child/person who may be concealing drugs would NOT be touched by anyone up to that point. Then, should suspicions be there, I'd imagine the parent would be contacted so the issue could be taken further.

It's hardly that the children were slammed to the floor with yells of 'you're nicked' blah blah is it.

CrystalHaze · 13/02/2015 19:47

Are drugs only ever present in prisons then, Mary?

Lambertsimnel · 13/02/2015 19:47

I have no objection to the school trying to keep drugs out. What I do object to is a blanket approach targeting all children. This would only happen with adults in a prison, children should be given the same respect.

OddBoots · 13/02/2015 19:48

It's not a search, it is probably quicker and less involved than a uniform inspection.

Biscetti · 13/02/2015 19:49

An airport isn't a prison either, but I don't see people getting their knickers stuck up their collective arse. Well, apart from muppets I suppose.

youarekiddingme · 13/02/2015 19:49

class A condoms and revels dealer

I would also be pleased if this happened in my ds school. I'd rather this and the kids put out for a few minutes of their life than their life end because they've taken drugs.

Paleodad · 13/02/2015 19:49

So all kids are guilty until proved innocent by sniff out search?

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