FOI Request - Drugs in Schools

Request 101003435714

Can I have the following information - all related to school settings within this council area, can I have a breakdown of primary and secondary.

1.  How many times has class a, b, c drugs been reported to have been on school property over the past 5 years – by year.

2.  How students have been found in possession of class a b or c drugs while on or in school over the past 5 years – by year.

3.  How many times has drug use or possession of drugs been reported to Police over the past 5 years – by year.

4.  How many suspensions have been handed out related to drug use or possession over the past 5 years – by year.

Response 15-12-2023

1. - 3. Any incidents would be recorded in a pupil's file.We would have to search through each file and this task would cost the Council in excess of £600 of staff time. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (excessive cost), we are therefore unable to comply with this part of the request.

Question 4 - The exclusions relate to substance misuse (not alcohol) in secondary schools. I have noted the number of incidents as well as the number of pupils excluded (some pupils may have been excluded more than once).

2023-24 (to date) - <5 incidents* 
2022-23 - 8 incidents (8 pupils)
2021-22 - 13 incidents (12 pupils)
2020-21 - 6 incidents (5 pupils)
2019-20 - <5 incidents *

*The low numbers associated with this response may result in the identification of individuals.
Therefore numbers of incidents/pupils between 1 and 5 have been redacted and marked with an asterisk instead.
This response is exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - personal information.