Schools may get pupil search powers

Teachers could be given new powers to search teenagers for drugs, alcohol and stolen goods, Schools Secretary Ed Balls has said.

Sir Alan Steer, head of the Government's school discipline task force, will review the operation of existing powers for school staff to search pupils for weapons. Mr Balls asked Sir Alan to consider how the powers could be extended so teachers can search pupils for other illicit items.

In a letter to Sir Alan, head of Seven Kings High School in Ilford, Essex, the Schools Secretary said he wanted advice on how to make such wider search powers "workable".

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