Mother shocked by suspected drugs in Stromness playpark
(From The Orcadian dated May 24, 2001)

An Orkney mother spoke out this week after discovering young girls smoking suspected drugs in the Wendy house of a Stromness play park.

Speaking to The Orcadian, she spoke of her disgust on seeing three girls using a home-made apparatus - known among cannabis smokers as a bong - in the Stromness Community Centre play park on Friday morning as children played nearby.

"I had taken three young children to the playpark. I couldn't believe the brass neck of the girls just sitting in the Wendy house smoking hash from a home-made bottle," she said.

"It really annoyed me because I had to keep going and taking the kids away from the Wendy house."

The mother, who asked not to be named, said the girls didn't move despite her going to the door of the Wendy house several times.

"They just put the bottle behind them - behind one of their schoolbags. They can only have been around 14 or 15."

The matter was reported to the council-run community centre staff and is now in the hands of the police.

Kirkwall police Inspector Paul Eddington said they were aware of the incident which had been reported to them by the OIC community education department.

"Our area drugs officer is currently investigating," he added.

It is believed the girls were told to leave the playpark by a community centre employee, but left behind the bottle which is still under lock and key.

Mr Malcolm Graves, from Orkney Islands Council confirmed that they had received a report of an incident within the Stromness Community Centre playpark, but declined to discuss any further details.

"The police have been informed," he said.

Head teacher at Stromness Academy Mr David Sillar said he had been contacted by the community centre.

"I got a phone call from the community centre. They thought they were pupils of ours and gave a bit of a description."

He said that many of the pupils are sitting exams at the moment and are on block release, giving them free time during school hours.

"I am not definitely sure if we can identify who they were, but if my guess is correct they are leavers, leaving after the exams."

Mr Sillar advised the community centre that it was quite a serious matter and told them to report it to the police.

"I did not think it was the school's role to investigate. They were outside the school when they did it. I have indicated we will co-operate fully with the police."