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Guidelines for Managing Drug-Related Incidents in Tasmanian Schools 2020-2024

Endorsement

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is endorsed on behalf of Tasmania Police, Department of Education, Catholic Education Office and Independent Schools Tasmania.

  • Darren Hine – Commissioner of Police
  • Tim Bullard – Secretary, Department of Education
  • Sean Gill – Acting Director, Tasmanian Catholic Education Office
  • Tony Crehan – Executive Director, Independent Schools Tasmania

Glossary

  • Drug
    A substance that produces a psychoactive effect. Within the context of the National Drug Strategy framework, the term drug is used generically to include tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceutical drugs and illicit drugs.
  • Drug-related incident
    Any occasion involving drug use and/or the possession, distribution or supply of a drug or drug-related equipment. For the purpose of these Guidelines a drug-related incident does not include alcohol or tobacco.
  • Drug-related issues
    A comprehensive term that describes all issues associated with drugs, including those that arise from personal use and use by another person or persons.
  • Illicit drug
    A drug for which the production, sale, possession or use is prohibited. An alternative term is ‘illegal drug’.
  • Inhalants
    Substances which are inhaled for their psychoactive effects, including many domestic and commercial products such as glue, aerosol sprays, paints, industrial solvents, thinners, petrol and cleaning fluids.
  • Pharmaceutical drugs
    Drugs available through pharmacies, supermarkets or stores including over-the-counter and prescription medicines.
  • Prescribed person
    Principal, teacher or member of staff of any Government, Catholic, or Independent Kindergarten, school, support school, senior secondary school or college in Tasmania.
  • Psychoactive effects
    The effects produced by a drug or substance that alter mental processes including mood, cognition, thinking or behaviour.
  • School
    Refers to any Government, Catholic, or Independent kindergarten, school, support school, senior secondary school or college. It also refers to any other location where an education program or activity is being undertaken under the management of a school in Tasmania.
  • School Liaison Officers – (Tasmania Police)
    A police officer within each geographical Drug Investigation Service area, with the direct responsibility for liaising with schools.
    Youth Crime Intervention Unit
    Intervenes and engages with at-risk young people earlier and encourages and supports them away from the youth justice system.

1. Introduction

These Guidelines between Tasmania Police, the Department of Education, Catholic Education Tasmania and Independent Schools Tasmania, complements preventative school drug education programs, and ensures that where police intervention is requested in relation to drug-related incidents in schools, police and individual school responses are planned, structured and consistent with the National School Drug Education Strategy.
These Guidelines are a working agreement that enables an effective response in addressing drug-related incidents in all schools. It is designed to provide schools and Tasmania Police with the necessary information to:

  • develop and implement policies in advance of any incident
  • identify what police officers, teachers and other school staff need to know about responding to drug-related incidents in schools, and
  • provide accessible advice for the management of incidents.

All members of the school community are to be treated fairly and equitably during the administration of these Guidelines. There is a need to ensure that all members of the school community understand the requirements and actions to be undertaken under these Guidelines, and additional support and assistance should be offered to individuals when necessary.
These Guidelines are due to expire on 31 December 2024. A review of the Guidelines will be undertaken by all parties involved no later than 30 November 2024.

2. Reporting drug-related incidents in schools

Principals, teachers or other members of school staff have a duty of care to advise Tasmania Police of any illegal or criminal activity that has occurred, is occurring or is suspected on school premises as soon as possible. Tasmania Police will provide advice and direction to schools at that time.

Information about drug misuse may be offered in confidence but the recipient cannot keep such information to him or herself if he or she is a ‘prescribed person’, and, in carrying out their official duties or in the course of their work (whether paid or voluntary), comes to believe, or suspect, on reasonable grounds, or knows that a child has been or is being abused, neglected or at risk. Under the Children, Young Persons and Families Act 1997, mandatory reporting provisions apply.

3. The seizure and handling of suspected illicit drugs

If a suspected illicit drug is located on school premises:

  • Staff should take temporary possession of the suspected illicit drug and hand it over to the police at the first possible opportunity. Staff should ensure corroboration/confirmation of any seizure, and such seizures are to be recorded and stored securely until handed over to the police.
  • In the interests of safeguarding the health and safety of staff, unknown substances should be handled to a minimum and with extreme care.
  • Protective gloves should always be worn when handling suspected illicit drugs or drug paraphernalia.
  • Do not under any circumstances taste or sniff any suspicious substance.

NEITHER POLICE OFFICERS NOR SCHOOL STAFF ARE AUTHORISED BY THE POISONS ACT 1971 OR MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT 2001, to destroy or dispose of drugs seized.

All seizures are forfeited to the Crown.

School authorities should report all illicit drug-related incidents to Tasmania Police.

4. Searches for illicit drugs or drug items

Students suspected of being in possession of illicit drugs, a thing used in the administration of a controlled drug, or a controlled plant or unsanctioned substance (including alcohol), may be requested to hand over the items.

School employees are advised to never put their hands into a student’s pocket or bag. Students should always be asked to empty their own property onto a flat surface, to avoid hidden sharp and dangerous objects.

In the absence of exceptional circumstances, it is strongly recommended that searches of students and/or their property for illicit drugs or drug items should only be conducted by Tasmania Police.

5. Drug dealing in and/or immediately outside school premises

Tasmania Police should be informed when school staff suspect illicit drug dealing activity is taking place in the vicinity of the school. This is in the interest of safeguarding the health and safety of young people in the area.

6. Contacting Tasmania Police for assistance

SCHOOLS REQUIRING POLICE ASSISTANCE IN RELATION TO ANY NON-URGENT DRUG RELATED MATTERS MUST CONTACT THE POLICE ASSISTANCE LINE (131 444).

Tasmania Police uniform officers are responsible for the initial attendance and investigation of drug-related incidents in schools. Drug-related incidents involving the supply or distribution of drugs will be referred to Drug Investigation Services for investigation. A school Liaison Officer within the Drug Investigation Service areas has been appointed with direct responsibility for liaising with schools within the relevant police district. When necessary the School Liaison Officer will also provide guidance to other police officers attending similar incidents. It is the responsibility of uniform police officers to notify the School Liaison Officer of a supply or distribution offence. The School Liaison Officer can be contacted by schools for advice in relation to a drug-related incident on 131 444.

TRIPLE ZERO (000) MUST ONLY BE USED IN A  LIFE THREATENING OR TIME CRITICAL EMERGENCY

7. Tasmania Police response to drug-related incidents

All requests for assistance from Tasmania Police will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Initial police response to requests from schools should be appropriate to the circumstances.

The prime objective of Tasmania Police Drug Investigation Services in relation to schools is the identification and apprehension of persons supplying/selling illicit drugs to students attending educational institutions. The prosecution of students in possession of, or using, an illicit drug or prohibited substance is not a primary objective and in most cases they will be dealt with through non-prosecution processes. A referral to Alcohol and Drug Services (ADS), Department of Health is an opportunity to address the harm associated with the behaviour and provide an appropriate health intervention (see section 8 for further details). The responsibility for informing parents and guardians of any drug incidents in schools lies with the principal of the school, noting that there is a duty for police to involve parents and/or guardians when interviewing children and young people aged less than eighteen years of age.

Level of response
Unless the drug-related incident requires immediate or urgent attention, the police response in dealing with the incident will be in accordance with operational priorities. In order to maintain consistency and to provide an effective response to drug-related incidents in all schools, a three-tiered response will be applied. The levels of response are:

Level 1: Where a suspected illicit drug or drug paraphernalia is found on school premises and no-one can be associated with that substance or item.

  • The incident must be reported to Tasmania Police in accordance with these Guidelines.
  • Uniform police officers will attend to collect the substance or item, identify it and secure it into police custody for later disposal.
  • Attending uniform police officers will notify the School Liaison Officer of the relevant geographical Drug Investigation Services, and the relevant geographical Youth Crime Intervention Unit.
  • Empty syringes or discarded injecting equipment are not prohibited items and whilst Tasmania Police can be made aware that such devices have been located at a school, disposal should be in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety procedures as determined by each educational sector.
  • Schools should record details of any drug incident, and inform Tasmania Police as soon as practicable. School Liaison Officers, Drug Investigation Services can advise principals on an appropriate and consistent method of recording drug incidents.
  • Schools will be provided with advice separately on request concerning methods of storing suspected illicit drugs and associated paraphernalia while awaiting the arrival of the police. The security and integrity of any evidence should be paramount.

Level 2: Where a suspected illicit drug or drug paraphernalia is found in a person’s possession or in circumstances where an offence or offender(s) are identified by school authorities.

  • The incident must be reported to Tasmania Police in accordance with these Guidelines.
  • Uniform police officers will attend and investigate the offence after discussing the situation with the principal or senior member of staff.
  • Attending uniform police officers will notify the School Liaison Officer of the relevant geographical Drug Investigation Services, and the relevant geographical Youth Crime Intervention Unit.
  • Interviews with students who are less than eighteen years of age can be conducted by a police officer only in the presence of a parent, guardian or other responsible adult. A definition of a ‘responsible adult’ is defined within Section 3 of the Youth Justice Act 1997.

Level 3: Where circumstances are identified which indicate the presence or history of more serious, widespread or persistent drug-related offences (e.g. distribution or supply offences). 

  • The incident must be reported to Tasmania Police in accordance with these Guidelines.
  • Uniform police officers will attend and investigate the offending by consulting and discussing the situation with the principal or senior member of the school.
  • Attending uniform police officers will notify the School Liaison Officer of the relevant geographical Drug Investigation Services, who may, depending on the circumstances attend the school and conduct a formal investigation.
  • The relevant geographical Youth Crime Intervention Unit is also to be notified by attending police officers.
  • Tasmania Police will initiate such an investigation when they discover the problem, and in such situations will liaise with the school principal. In exceptional circumstances, it may be necessary for Tasmania Police to conduct investigations without the prior knowledge of relevant school authorities.
  • Interviews with students who are less than eighteen years of age can be conducted by a police officer only in the presence of a parent, guardian or other responsible adult. A definition of a ‘responsible adult’ is defined within Section 3 of the Youth Justice Act 1997.

8. Police action arising from investigations

Whilst Tasmania Police retains the right to determine if charges should be laid under the Poisons Act 1971 and Misuse of Drugs Act 2001, the overarching policy outcomes sought are ones that:

  • are consistent with the best interests of the student and the school community
  • seek to foster co-operative approaches between Tasmania Police and school principals in determining appropriate action to deal with students involved with illicit drugs, and
  • focus law enforcement efforts on apprehending suppliers of illicit drugs to young people.

Legislation and Tasmania Police policy allow officers discretion and flexibility in dealing with drug-related incidents in schools. The Youth Justice Act 1997 encourages police to consider options other than prosecution wherever possible. This approach provides opportunities for Tasmania Police to divert juvenile minor drug offenders to receive health education and intervention.

Accordingly, incidents will be dealt with by taking all factors into consideration and working in close partnership with schools and parents/guardians. The range of options includes:

Informal Caution: The lawful exercise of discretion by a police officer to caution an offender for unlawful conduct (Section 8, Youth Justice Act 1997). The offender is cautioned, in the form of a Youth Caution Action Notice (YCAN), and no further action is taken in relation to the matter. The youth and guardian should be encouraged to contact ADS or the Drug Education Network. Their contact information is located on the back of the YCAN.

Formal Caution: A formal caution is administered by an authorised police officer (Sections 9-10, Youth Justice Act 1997) and the offender is formally cautioned against further offending. A voluntary ADS referral should be made (Youth Justice Act 1997).

Community Conference: This process is activated by police (sections 13-20, Youth Justice Act 1997) by requiring the Secretary, Department of Communities Tasmania to convene a community conference. This approach is instigated for serious offences or cases of recidivist offending.

Prosecution: Charged/summonsed with offence, to appear in court.

ADS referral: A referral to ADS should be considered by attending police and senior school members. Either party can complete an ADS Youth Drug Caution and Tasmania Early Intervention Program (TEIP) – Referral to Alcohol and Drug Services. The form must be signed by a parent or guardian and submitted to ADS. The diversionary process is designed to maximise the student’s welfare and consider the health needs of the involved youth. The ADS referral is to be considered in conjunction with a formal caution, community conference or prosecution and cannot be used as a stand-alone process.

9. Confidentiality and media management

Tasmania Police and school principals must be sensitive of the need to maintain confidentiality. This is balanced with the need to keep parents informed about such issues. With the prevalence of social media in schools, students will be aware of drug related incidents at schools and will tell their parents. Schools must also be careful not to in any way affect Tasmania Police investigations or actions taken as a result of such incidents.

Schools will be given advice and action will be taken by Tasmania Police ‘in confidence’ to avoid undue publicity, and to maintain a coordinated and consistent partnership approach. Specifically, Tasmania Police will provide senior school members and/or the educational institutions’ media office with media statements about seizures of drugs at educational establishments prior to public release.

It is the responsibility of school principals to inform their Department, relevant Catholic Education Tasmania Director or governing body of drug-related incidents occurring within schools in accordance with established policies.

Media management will be undertaken in consultation with the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management and the Department of Education, Catholic Education Tasmania and the Principal of the Independent School.

10. Grievance and dispute resolution

The parties to these Guidelines are committed to resolving grievances and disputes as quickly and efficiently as possible, and in a manner that is consistent with recognised good practice in regards to conflict resolution.

If there is an issue or a party is unsure regarding any aspect of the Guidelines, then they are to seek informal clarification regarding the matter from the parties involved.

If the situation is unable to be resolved from this initial approach, discussions to resolve the issue should then take place between delegated representatives of the signatories. These representatives shall work together to reach an outcome satisfactory to each party, and which reflects the spirit of this agreement.

After discussions, if the issue remains unresolved the matter should be referred to a meeting between those involved and an agreed independent third party for resolution.