---<br /> <br /> A Highland school is to become the first in Scotland to use sniffer dogs in <br /> spot checks for drugs.<br /> <br /> Specially trained police officers from Northern Constabulary will carry out <br /> the random searches at Kingussie High School to discover if staff or pupils <br /> are carrying drugs.<br /> <br /> The move comes after police reported increasing seizures of heroin, cocaine <br /> and crack cocaine in the Highlands.<br /> <br /> Sniffer dogs have been used to search for drugs in English schools for <br /> nearly two years. Random checks have been carried out in Northumbria, the <br /> west Midlands, Buckinghamshire and Staffordshire while, in south Yorkshire, <br /> dogs were taken on to school buses last year.<br /> <br /> Kingussie High School rector Eddie Broadley - who has expressed growing <br /> concern about the dangers of illegal substances - is behind the scheme.<br /> <br /> He has written to parents informing them of the searches at the school, <br /> which has a roll of 393 pupils.<br /> <br /> Mr Broadley, who took up his post last autumn, said: "I am extremely <br /> worried about the situation in society in general. We will not tolerate at <br /> any time anybody abusing or misusing illegal substances in school.<br /> <br /> "We are serious about working with the police.<br /> <br /> "Nowadays there is no school that does not have a problem - to deny it <br /> would be criminal."<br /> <br /> Inspector Les Donaldson, who is based at Aviemore, said: "Studies report <br /> that cannabis is replacing a cigarette behind the bike shed. But there is <br /> recognition that there might be a problem and at least we can offer help to <br /> prevent it.<br /> <br /> "In the Highlands we are in the unenvious position of the highest detected <br /> blood-ecstasy count of any drivers in the UK. I have seen the effect that <br /> drugs can have."<br /> <br /> He added that, while Kingussie High School did not have a serious drugs <br /> problem, teachers, parents and pupils were keen to keep it that way.<br /> <br /> Northern Constabulary dog handler Sean McNeill and three-year-old springer <br /> spaniel Brahn, one of four dogs trained to uncover drugs, gave a <br /> demonstration at Kingussie High School yesterday.<br /> <br /> Brahn can sniff out five drugs - cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, cannabis and <br /> ecstasy.<br /> <br /> He can even detect if a person has been near drugs.<br /> <br /> Mr Broadley said that if drugs were found on any pupil exclusion was <br /> inevitable, but he added that support would be provided.<br /> <br /> "We have to follow the law," he said, "but we are not looking to punish <br /> anyone. We want to offer support to the children."<br /> <br /> Joan Campbell, a mother of three from Kingussie who works as a clerical <br /> assistant at the school, said she was in favour of the searches.<br /> <br /> Her 17-year-old son, Craig, is in his sixth year and has discussed the <br /> issue of drugs abuse in social education classes.<br /> <br /> She said: "I hope that other parents think it is a good idea. One or two <br /> will probably be unhappy but I do not have a problem with it.<br /> <br /> "Unfortunately it is difficult for parents to know that something is going on.<br /> <br /> "I don't think drugs are a major problem for this school but there is a <br /> wider issue with drugs for all communities."<br /> <br /> After the Easter break, staff from Inverness Prison will visit the school <br /> to talk to the children about problems associated with drugs abuse.<br /> <br />Aurora Indica |  B52 |  Big Bud |  California Orange Bud |  Citral |  Four Way |  Haze |  Hindu Kush |  Indoor Mix |  Jock Horror |  K2 |  Maroc x Afghan |  Northern Light x Big Bud |  Northern Light x Haze |  Northern Light x Shiva |  Shiva |  Skunk #1 |  Skunk Red Hair |  Skunk Special |  Papaya |  White Rhino |  Haze 19 x Skunk |  Afghan |  Master Kush |  Northern Light |  Super Skunk |  Top 44 |  Durban Poison |  Early Bud |  Early Girl |  Early Misty |  Early Special |  Hawaii x Maui Waui |  Hawaii x Skunk #1 |  Hollands Hope |  KC 33 x Master Kush |  Mixed Sativa |  New Purple Power |  Swazi |  Swiss Miss |  Northern Bright |  Snow White (fem.) |  Supergirl |  Venus |  Wonder Woman |  Kaya |  PPP (fem.) |  Medusa |  Blue Mystic |  Chrystal |  Ice |  Misty |  PPP |  White Widow |  Nirvana Special |  White Rhino |  Snow White |  AK-48 |  Bubblelicious |  Silver Pearl |  Haze |  Jock Horror |  Northern Light x Haze |  White Rhino |  Haze 19 x Skunk |