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Monday, July 17, 2017 No. 40220
■ THE CHAMPION OF IPSWICH
ipswichstar.co.uk Special report – pages 2-3
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Page 14
Police plea: ‘Do not exclude pupils caught doing drugs’
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It could drive them into hands of gangs, warn senior officers Pupils caught with drugs or possessing knives should not be excluded from school – because police fear it could push them into the hands of gangs. Schools are being urged to consider alternative options to exclusion in a bid to keep children off the streets, and senior police officers are working with teachers
EMILY TOWNSEND emily.townsend@archant.co.uk
on the issue. Acting Superintendent Simon Mills, of Suffolk Constabulary, said: “One example of where we are trying to work with partners to prevent the attraction to gangs
is where youngsters are caught doing things at school, whether it’s doing drugs or possession of a knife, and the school’s decision is to exclude them. “This can push these children into the hands of gangs. “What we are saying is don’t exclude them. “We need to educate them in school. Don’t send them out on the
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streets.” Richard Thomas, executive officer at the Suffolk Association of Secondary Heads, said schools use exclusion as a last resort. He said: “We always try various other options before excluding a pupil and try to help them in every way possible.” Full story: Page 9
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