THE principal of a secondary school has reinforced a message of zero tolerance on drugs responding to fears of gangs peddling to students.

Penistone Grammar School principal Paul Crook says the school is anxious to work with the community to keep youngsters safe, welcoming the idea of a multi-agency meeting to thrash out the situation locally after concerns about drugs were raised at a local crime meeting earlier this month.

But he said the school is ‘on top of it’ where drugs are concerned.

“A very small number of students here are vulnerable and have chosen the wrong path,” said Mr Crook. “We are working with them and their families to make sure they make the right decisions in future.”

Mr Crook has spoken out in the wake of comments made at the last Police and Community Together meeting in Penistone. At that session, Churches Together representative Jeff Hill flagged up fears about the so-called ‘county line’ urban gangs who recruit youngsters to traffic drugs in rural areas.

Mr Hill said he ‘would be watching Penistone Grammar School like a hawk’ in a bid to ward off problems.

Since then, ward councillor Dave Griffin has said he will be raising the issue again and floated the idea of a special meeting for all interested parties.

“Then we can get on and do something rather than not,” said Coun Griffin.

Mr Crook told the Chronicle: “This is about working with the community, not about defending the school.

“If there is an issue I want to know. I want names, photos and to talk to the parents. This is a 2,000-plus organisation and if we can support the community moving forward that’s what we want to do.

“I am not saying everything is perfect. Some young people have made the wrong choices and it is my job to make sure we support them to enable them to be educated.”

Mr Crook said the community is ‘dear to his heart’ and that in future he wants PGS representatives at the PACT meetings.

“I want to be involved and for us to be at these meetings,” he said. “To look at the challenges and to consider if we need staff out there supporting these youngsters to make sure people coming from Manchester or wherever to sell drugs don’t reach our kids.

“I don’t know about this ‘county line’. But we are supporting a very small number of vulnerable students who have made the wrong choices as to how they spend their recreational time. A handful are working with outside agencies to sort out their problems.

“We have zero tolerance of anyone caught with or in the act of dealing, using or selling drugs at Penistone Grammar School. One hundred per cent.

But we will support those who go astray and we are on top of it.”

Mr Crook said the idea of a multi-agency meeting was ‘fantastic’.

“We need to work together,” he said. “Let’s all get round the table. We are all on the same team.”

He said the school would be willing to host such a meeting. “Let’s do it,” he said. “Let’s make sure our community is safe.”

Coun Griffin said many people had been asking about Jeff Hill’s comments on the Community Action Penistone Facebook page.

“But the best place to discuss such issues is at the PACT meetings,” he said. “And I will be taking this matter to the next session.”

He has written to neighbourhood sergeant Brad Wynne asking for a meeting to go through what has been said.

“I think it is fair to do that so that he can be prepared, especially if it is felt there is something we need to do such as a meeting of interested parties at the school,” said Coun Griffin.

“I can understand where Jeff Hill is coming from. The people who should be helping are the police, school and drugs charities. He is doing a good job in signposting the problem.

“A couple of years ago, we were assured that everyone concerned was dealing with the issue of drugs at the school.”