Learners of Laerskool Gansbaai had great fun while learning valuable lessons about the dangers of drugs and how specially trained dogs assist in the fight against crime.
Members of Overstrand Municipality’s K9 Unit, Gansbaai police and Overberg Police K9 Unit visited the school on 18 April at the request of the Gansbaai Community Police Forum (CPF) and 1 Life Rescue.
The purpose was to have a drug awareness discussion and build trust and positive relationships with the schoolchildren through both dog units.
The day kicked off with random searches for drugs and dangerous weapons by the police and law-enforcement officers and their dogs.
Chief Chaplain Mark Robson of 1 Life Rescue and Gansbaai police safety coordinator Warrant Officer Woensdregt Basson then gave a drug-awareness talk, emphasising that in the event of pressure from people around them to use drugs the children should inform their teachers or officers for assistance.
He said: “The dogs and their handlers worked extremely well together and did us proud. Awesome teamwork makes great success. The children saw that not only are they enforcers of the law, but they are also there to help and protect them, and they don’t have to be afraid of them but can go to them in time of need.”
The K9 units also conducted a drug-dog demonstration and informed the learners of the counselling centre at Gansbaai Police Station as well as the counselling services provided by staff of 1 Life Rescue should they need help.
The counselling centre can be contacted on 079 894 1626 and 1 Life Rescue on 0861 13 13 11.
