Student policies & guidelines
Drugs policy
On the discovery of a student in possession of illegal drugs, the following policy should be applied:
(a) The police should be called whenever illegal drugs are discovered, unless it is clear that a class ‘C’ drug is involved and that a small quantity is involved;
(b) Investigative interviews should be carried out without delay regardless of whether or not the police are called, so that information is present and gathered at the time. This will enable the University to instigate disciplinary proceedings of its own, irrespective of any action the police may take (the police may also not share the result of their own enquiries with the University);
(c) On the first offence of discovery of illegal drugs the Head of Student Services and the Head of Security Services will summon the student to an investigative interview (based on a report from the Student Accommodation Manager, if the offence arose within the residences). If satisfied that the drugs are for personal use, and the drugs concerned are not in the most serious categories, there is the discretion to give no more than a written warning, coupled with strong encouragement to the student to take advantage of support services available.
(d) On the second offence, there will be automatic referral to the University Secretary to take action under the formal disciplinary procedures and, if in residences, the student will be required to leave their accommodation and pay the usual termination charge.
(e) In all cases, the offences will be recorded on the student’s file and be communicated to their academic department. This will apply regardless of whether the student or the offence was in University residential accommodation.
Full details of drug classifications in the UK can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drugs-law/Class-a-b-c/