HARD drugs are circulating among young teenagers at an island school, it is feared.
The Oban Times can reveal that young teenagers are suspected of passing on Ecstasy and LSD to fellow pupils at Tobermory High School on Mull.
This week both island and mainland police confirmed that they had ‘strong intelligence’ that the hallucinogenic drugs were being sold at the school which shares a campus with a primary school.
Sergeant Angie Macdonald, based at Tobermory police station, said this week: ‘We have gathered strong, reliable intelligence about what is going on at the school.
‘Obviously, this is of great concern to us and as a result we made the school aware of the allegations.
‘I am keen to work proactively with the school, and I would also urge parents to contact me directly.’
Mull’s councillor Mary-Jean Devon revealed she was aware of a drug problem at the school.
She said: ‘It has been mentioned to me on more than one occasion by parents that there are drugs being sold on the campus.
‘Like a lot of people I am very concerned that these kind drugs appear to be surfacing on the island, particularly among such a young age group.
‘I am keen that we send out a message that drugs will not be tolerated here, and I would urge others to co-operate as much as possible with the police in rooting out this problem.’
A parent, who contacted the Oban Times but did not want named, said: ‘It is fairly common knowledge that there is Ecstasy and LSD going around the school and that young people are using them.
‘These are serious, mind-altering drugs, and certainly not the kind of things that kids should be dabbling with.’
Oban police chief inspector Fred Hall said: ‘Sergeant Macdonald is a former drugs enforcement officer and is fully aware of all drug issues in her command area.
‘She is taking steps to deal with the community’s concerns. Last week’s drugs raid, involving dawn raids by officers on two homes in Tobermory, was only the first step.’
As a result of the early morning police operation last week, a large quantity of suspected class A, B and C drugs were seized from one home and reports sent to the procurator fiscal.
A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council said this week: ‘Our education office is not aware of any drugs-related incidents at Tobermory High and, in accordance with guidance, all schools must report any such incidents to this office.
‘The council takes the issue of illegal drugs in schools extremely seriously and all schools in Argyll and Bute have clear guidance on how to deal with drugs-related incidents.
‘Specific procedures include close supervision of the pupils involved, and reporting to the police, parents and possibly social work.
‘If anyone has any information regarding drugs incidents at any of our schools, we would appreciate them getting in contact with us immediately.’
