Police take more steps to crack down on drug activities involving school children
Letter boxes to be installed in Western Province schools for secret information on drug smuggling
The Western Province Police will introduce letter boxes in the Province’s
schools to collect information from students who wish to secretly provide information about drug trafficking and those trying to sell drugs to students.
The move was initiated by Western Province Police Senior Deputy Inspector General Dehsabandu Tennakoon.
“We have launched the scheme in the wake of the arrest of students involved in taking drugs or trafficking drugs,” the Deputy Inspector said.
Between 2017 and 2018, 3,455 students below 18 years had been arrested for drug offences islandwide. Twenty five of them were below 14 years.
Because there is an increase of drug related cases in the Western province and school children are being targeted, the police had decided to take steps to reduce drugs reaching these children, he said.
The Deputy Inspector said a hotline had been introduced to provide information at any time about drugs. The number is 0777128128.
He also said the Police hope to train advisors for schools so they can educate children on the ill-effects of drugs. They will also be able to closely interact with students in finding information about drug trafficking.
Every month, the schools will allocate a separate period to educate the children.
The police also plan on using people in civvies (civilian clothing) to track down people who may be providing drugs to school children.
School canteen staff, three-wheel drivers, cleaning staff, van drivers and their assistants will be under observation.
However, last week’s Government decision to deploy police officers to control the drug menace in schools was criticised by education trade unions.
The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) said the decision will only scare school children and suppress their independence.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said school authorities should be empowered to control the problem in schools instead.
“There are enough rules and regulations in schools which could be used to control the drug menace,” Mr Stalin said.
He also said there are 10,164 public schools in the country, and it would not be possible to keep an eye on all these schools.
(DW/CC)