5 Nelson and Colne college students suspended over drink and drugs claims (From Lancashire Telegraph)

5 Nelson and Colne college students suspended over drink and drugs claims

9:00am Monday 16th November 2009 in

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FIVE students were suspended and disciplinary action taken after a college was told they had been downing vodka, smoking cannabis and urinating in the street.

A senior member of staff at Nelson and Colne College confirmed the action was taken following a complaint made by a local resident.

It comes after householders in Gisburn Road, near the campus in Barrowford, said youths, believed to be students, had made their lives hell for a year.

One resident said youngsters regularly congregated behind their homes at lunchtimes, engaging in anti-social behaviour.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph that photographs were taken and sent to the college of the inappropriate behaviour after bosses appeared to ‘wash their hands’ of the issue.

Judith Watson, assistant principal, said a ‘thorough’ investigation had taken place and resulted in the college taking the ‘appropriate’ disciplinary action.

Residents first raised concerns over youths’ behaviour in Grey Street, behind their Gisburn Road homes, last December.

They said a number of complaints had been made to the college about youngsters drinking, smoking and littering as early at 10am.

Lyn Surgeon, principal at Nelson and Colne College, had then insisted there was no evidence to link those involved to the college.

According to residents the problems have continued on a regular basis since last year.

Police also confirmed that a complaint had been received about youngsters engaging in ‘inconsiderate behaviour’ in the area.

Coun John David, leader of Pendle Council and a governor at the college, said: “This is the sort of thing we take very seriously.

“Although we are not responsible for what students do outside college we will take disciplinary action where we can.

“It is very sad that these students have behaved in this way and inconvenienced so many people. We do everything we can to keep local residents happy.”

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I’ve watched them during the daytime down a full bottle of vodka in less than five minutes and then just leave it.”

Another resident said the problems were at the end of the street nearest to the college.

He said: “They come mainly at lunchtime. They eat and drink and some of them do leave their litter. Sometimes I find things in my bin that I haven’t put there and that’s fine because at least they’re using it, but other times there is litter on the floor.

“I have seen them urinating up against the wall.”

Following the most recent complaint, Ms Watson, confirmed five students had been suspended. She said investigations had taken place during the suspension period and that student behaviour policy and procedure had been adhered to.

She said: “We did fairly recently receive another complaint. The details did quite strongly indicate that college students might have been involved.

“We acted quickly and conducted a thorough investigation which resulted in us instigating disciplinary procedures and we have taken the appropriate action.”

A spokeswoman for the college said the complaint was an ‘isolated’ incident.

She said: "The college is proud of the behaviour of the majority of its students and of the voluntary work they carry out in the community.

“The college frequently receives letters of praise from the community commending the behaviour and attitude of its students.”

Police confirmed that a complaint had been received about youngsters engaging in ‘inconsiderate behaviour’ in the area.

A member of the neighbourhood policing team said an investigation had been launched and was ongoing.