Trade Union reveals crime in FE colleges

The trade union Unison released research at its annual conference in Brighton revealing a “disturbing” picture of violence and substance misuse by young people in further education colleges.

The report said that violence, crime and substance misuse are widespread across colleges, with students regularly carrying weapons and drugs onto college premises

A survey of 780 support staff in further education and sixth form colleges found seven in 10 reported that drug abuse among students was a problem. A third said crime involving weapons was a concern, while a fifth believed gang culture was a problem at their institution. Three in 10 staff surveyed have had to deal with students who brought drugs into college and two fifths have had dealings with students who are under the influence of drugs, the survey found.

Staff described routinely finding weapons such as knives, machetes and hammers and even guns.

Drugs regularly found inside colleges included cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and the so-called “zombie” drug Black Mamba.