Search and confiscate policy

Purpose

The Department of Education guidance on searching, screening and confiscation sets out the statutory powers provided to staff which allows the searching and screening of students. This policy:

• provides staff with the confidence to use those powers if and when needed, particularly the use of the power to search students
• explains the powers staff have to seize and confiscate items found during a search

The legislation covering these powers are set out in the searching, screening and confiscation guidance.

Principle of the policy

The InspireU principal and authorised staff can search any student for any item with the student’s consent. Authorised staff means any adult who is:

• employed at InspireU
• in a position of responsibility or authority with regard to the student body

InspireU have authorised a number of staff to undertake searches of students and their possessions. These staff members have received training on the legislation and principles related to searching. A list of those staff authorised to search students is held by the senior leadership team.

The principal and authorised staff have the statutory power to search students, or their possessions, where they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that the student may have a prohibited item in their possession.

A prohibited item for a student of any age includes:

• knives or weapons
• illegal drugs
• stolen items
• any article that the member of staff reasonably suspects has been, or is likely to be, used to:
  • commit an offence
  • cause personal injury to, or damage to the property of, any person (including the student)

For students aged under 18, a prohibited item also includes:

• alcohol
• fireworks
• pornography

InspireU staff can seize any prohibited item found as a result of a search. They can also seize any item, however found, which they consider harmful or detrimental to the setting.