Two primary school pupils aged EIGHT caught with cannabis in the school playground
Police called in after children found with drugs in their playground in quiet Northumberland town
POLICE were called to a primary school after two boys aged EIGHT were caught with cannabis in the playground.
The two year 4 pupils were caught with cannabis at the Bedlington Station Primary School on Monday, May 16.
Teachers immediately confiscated the class B drug with Northumbria Police called to the school.
The school's headteacher Carl Sutherland said the children had not been suspended.
"A member of our staff became aware of two Year 4 pupils with a suspicious substance in the playground, which they confiscated. We immediately called the police who came in and took possession of the substance."
He said there had been no attempt by the students to consume the substance on school grounds.
"There was a very frank conversation with the pupils and their parents to try to establish what happened."
Mr Sutherland said the safety and well-being of the students was the number one priority of the school.
He said: "We would like to reassure parents that we have robust policies in place for incidents such as this, and there were followed to the letter by our staff.
"We will be running additional information sessions on keeping children safe to make sure everybody gets the message."
In a later statement released on the school's Facebook page, Mr Sutherland said the incident was "isolated" and invited anyone still concerned to speak to him in person.
There was a very frank conversation with the pupils and their parents to try to establish what happened.
Carl Sutherland
Parents were surprised by the news with many praising the school for acting quickly.
One community member wrote: "Fault lies with the parents that allow their child ready access to substances it's bad parenting at its best and I thoroughly hope they are investigated and their children removed. There's no excuse for it! It's illegal for a reason."
The maximum penalty for possessing cannabis, a class B drug, is up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both, but the UK age of criminality is 10.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said neighbourhood officers worked closely with local schools to raise awareness of the dangers of taking drugs.