A secondary school has warned parents and students that it will be enlisting the help of police sniffer dogs to tackle 'county lines' drugs.
The head teacher of Queen Elizabeth's School in Wimborne, Dorset, informed pupils of the upcoming enforcement changes in a letter to home.
The highly-rated mixed school, which has more than 1,500 pupils aged 13 to 18, is rated as Good by Ofsted, and "has no drug problem".
As well as 'highly trained' sniffer dogs roaming classrooms, there will also be a PCSO searching bags to check for banned substances, including tobacco, vapes and cigarettes.
Sign to our TeamDogs newsletter for your weekly dose of dog news, pictures and stories.
Katie Boyes, head teacher of QE School, said "the use of a dog is not in reaction to an incident and there is not a drug problem", Bournemouth Echo reports.
She continued: "We want to make the school as safe as possible and like other local schools decided to invite a sniffer dog in with its handler.
"It is entirely a preventative measure and is designed to help reassure parents that we are doing everything to ensure their children are safe."
The site has also erected a large fence to improve security, and the sniffer dogs will turn up next week as part of an initiative being run in several Dorset schools.
Some parents have welcomed the crackdown and called it a "good move forward", while others have questioned whether it is a step "too far".
The full letter to parents explaining the changes states: "As part of our determination to educate students about, and protect them from the dangers of illicit drugs, the Queen Elizabeth's School has a programme of work that is delivered through assemblies and as part of the Curriculum for Life Programmes.
"In the light of recent news items about 'county lines', we have arranged for a drugs sniffer dog to attend on one day during the week beginning July 4, 2022. This approach has also been taken by a number of schools locally.
"Ensuring that our school is a safe, drug free and healthy environment for all students to learn and develop is a priority and reflects our community's values and expectations.
"It is with these goals in mind that we are undertaking this procedure.
"Your son/daughter will have had this explained to them by their tutor prior to the visit to prepare them.
"The dog will move across the school from class to class and in the shared areas, such as the library and reception.
"Students will be asked to file past the dog who will indicate any concerns to his handler.
"The student's parents would then be informed if, on further investigations, these concerns needed to be explored further.
"Periodically we will also be undertaking bag searches to ensure no banned substances, including tobacco, vapes and cigarettes have been brought into the school."
Do you have a dog story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
