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Drugs dog helping with Papdale Halls of Residence investigation
January 29, 2022
We are working in partnership with Police Scotland, Orkney Islands council and other organisations to keep Orkney safe.
Police Scotland, NHS Orkney, and the council, are currently investigating an incident which took place at Kirkwall’s Papdale Halls of Residence, on Wednesday, January 26. This involved five young people being taken to hospital. Two of them were kept in overnight and have not been discharged.
The council’s Executive Director of Education, Leisure, and Housing, James Wylie, is asking youths, parents, and carers to come forward with any information they might have about the unknown substance that caused the incident.
Last night, Orkney Islands Updates also issued the following update from Mr Wylie:
“We must allow the police the time and space now to conduct their investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further on their inquiries. Our focus is now to offer support and assistance to those young people and families moving forward but also the wider community who may have understandable concerns. I want to reassure parents and carers that steps are being taken to further engage with young people on the potential dangers around substance misuse.
“Support for staff and pupils is in place in Orkney schools and Papdale Halls of Residence for those who require it. I met with representatives from the Papdale Halls of Residence, the Police, the Orkney Drugs Dog charity, Community Learning and Development and senior secondary and junior high school head teachers this afternoon to discuss how we further educate and engage with young people on serious issues such as substance misuse.
“We are grateful to the Police and the Orkney Drugs Dog charity for agreeing to visit and deliver preventative programmes with parents and pupils which will begin to be rolled out next week. This will be over and above the standard Health and Wellbeing programme delivered throughout the year.
“I am also appreciative of parents talking to their children about the dangers that are out there in terms of illegal drugs and potentially harmful substances.”
Useful information for how to communicate appropriately with children and young people can be found on a number of websites such as www.talktofrank.com, www.nspcc.org.uk and www.nhs.uk.
If you have any immediate concerns about a young person’s health please call 111 or 999 in an emergency. Anyone with information in relation to the incident is asked to call the Police on 101 or the confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111 .
“If we work together as a community, I am confident we can make a positive impact. I’d like to thank parents for their exceptionally positive reaction to the swift support provided by the Papdale Halls staff in addressing this significant concern. I would personally like to thank parents, staff and young people while we all continue to work our way through this together.”