Kids, 10, in cannabis probe
A PROBE has been launched into claims that children as young as 10 were smoking cannabis at a youth club in Greater Manchester.
The inquiry follows a complaint from two volunteer workers who say they were confronted by a gang of children using drugs at a council-run centre.
They say the children at Delph Youth Centre even offered to share their joint and to sell them hard drugs.
The volunteers who made the allegations described how they went to the centre the night before a Christmas party they were organising for a toddlers' group. They say a group of youngsters attending the youth club were smoking cannabis inside the building
One said: "There were a group of youngsters smoking in the corridors and they didn't expect to see us.
"One of the gang asked if I wanted a drag on what he was smoking or if I wanted to buy some crack. The staff tried to usher them out. It's just not on and we don't want this happening in the village.
"The young people were flaunting what they were doing. It wasn't just one joint being passed around. We decided to leave and came back in half an hour but the place absolutely stank.
"I have complained to the council and they are trying to make out the smoke drifted in from outside but this is simply not true, it was being smoked inside the building."
Oldham Council member, Hugh McDonald, said: "If this is correct then it is just not on. Now it has been brought to my notice it will be investigated right away. That is my promise."
Mike Linnell, director of communications at drugs advice body Lifeline in Manchester, said: "We are seeing children trying drugs at younger and younger ages and obviously it is a worry if a 10-year-old was smoking cannabis, just as it would be equally worrying if they were drinking alcohol.
"There is growing evidence that the younger people are when they first try drugs, the more likely they are to develop drugs problems as they get older. But there is also a difference between someone having a quick puff on a cigarette or a joint, compared to someone who is a regular user."
Head of Oldham Youth Service, Pam Griffin, said: "In line with council policy, youth service staff take action to ensure that no illegal activities take place within council premises, this includes the use of any non-prescription drugs in addition to any form of smoking tobacco products.
"Although youth service staff do intervene and raise young people's awareness of the dangers of smoking cannabis they have no legal powers to take any other action with regard to members of the public outside of our premises, regardless of their age."
Pauline Thornley, development worker for Parents Against Drug Abuse said: "I work on the streets with young people and more education is needed because a lot of young people are confused about the laws and some of them don't think they are doing anything wrong."