SHOCKING figures show that Hampshire has the highest numbers of schoolchildren in the country caught with drugs on school premises.

A teacher’s union leader described the figures as “worrying” and admitted the numbers suggest that children face even worse problems out of school.

In total Hampshire Constabulary has recorded 229 incidents of youngsters being caught with drugs on school premises since 2011.

Statistics show that drugs including heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis were seized at various schools across the UK, including an eight-year-old and nine-year-old in Staffordshire who were caught with cannabis.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: “Any incident of drugs on school premises is worrying as it will often only be the tip of the iceberg of what young people are encountering on the streets.

“Teachers and school leaders are always alert to the potential for young people being involved in drug or alcohol abuse.

“Unfortunately, many of the programmes and specialist support on which the schools could rely to assist in supporting and educating young people in the perils of substance abuse have been cut under this coalition government.”

The national figures show a slight year-on-year decrease in the number of incidents from a peak of 657 in 2011/12 to 611 and 560 the following years.

A Hampshire County Council spokeswoman declined to identify schools involved but said that when pupils are found with drugs, schools can refer the incidents to police and a county council advice service.

The spokeswoman said: “Incidents of drug use or misuse within schools are relatively rare but when they occur they are manage by school staff and with police intervention where appropriate.

“The county council encourages all Hampshire schools to develop an independent substance misuse policy, to include details of the substance abuse and misuse management procedure.

“Schools can access guidance and support in developing these policies from the county council together with a range of support and training from the Hampshire Teaching and Leadership College.”