Students held for weed, weapons seized
November 15, 2008
Fifteen students who attend schools in Kingston, St Andrew and St Catherine were arrested in October for possession of, dealing in and smoking marijuana.
The students were referred either for counselling or to do community service, Valeen Calder, assistant superintendent of police at the Com-munity Safety and Security branch of the Jamaica Consta-bulary Force, told The Gleaner.
Ten students, who were determined to be in need of care and protection, were taken in and placed before the courts.
This was done in accordance with the Child Care and Protection Act.
offensive weapons
Numerous offensive weapons, imitation firearms, a 9mm cartridge and cutting implements were among some of the items confiscated by the police during searches carried out in the schools.
Searches were conducted by the Safe Schools Task Force unit, a programme that is operated by the Community Safety and Security branch. School resource officers also formed part of the search teams.
"The Safe Schools Programme is an attempt to stem the increasing levels of anti-social and early criminal behaviour among students," stated a release sent out by the branch.
The release also stated that such behaviour, in some instances, had led to fatalities in the schools....
Author: Michelle-Ann Letman
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
