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A top North East university has changed its zero tolerance approach to drugs and illegal substances in student halls.

Under the previous policy, Newcastle University students found to be in first-time possession of narcotics would be evicted from their accommodation.

Now, residents caught in possession of illegal substances will have their eviction suspended on condition that there are no further offences.

The university will also offer a support package from their well-being services to give students the help they need.

However, more serious actions such as supplying illegal substances will lead to an immediate termination of contract.

The decision to amend the zero tolerance policy was made following a petition and a motion from group Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and the Students’ Union to challenge the university’s stance.

The change makes Newcastle University one of only a handful of universities in the country to favour welfare over pure deterrence.

University bosses say they don’t condone use of illegal substances, but say the policy has been altered to offer more support to those who struggle with drugs.

Zoe Carre, founder of the Newcastle chapter of SSDP, said the change in policy was the right step towards better drug policies.

“The zero tolerance policy actually made things worse for students,” she said.

“The intention was to help students in terms of substance use but it actually made things worse. If they’re kicked out of accommodation it can actually put vulnerable people at more risk of harm.”

Another big change to the policy is the medical amnesty clause that has now been inserted.

The clause states that any student who contacts the authorities in a “timely manner” will now have this taken into account in relation to any future proposed disciplinary action.

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Ms Carre said: “The medical amnesty policy basically means that I might hesitate to call the ambulances and take time to actually hide the drugs because I’m afraid and that is to the detriment of students’ health, so it has positive health benefits.

“For instance you’re overdosing right now and I call the police and there is drugs around us, they will take that into consideration.”

However, concerns have been raised by students that many don’t know of the policy changes, which could put lives at risk.

They argue the medical amnesty policy can only help students if people know about it, as well as the university’s new welfare approach to drugs.

A Newcastle University spokesman said: “We review internal policies on a regular basis.

“We worked with the Students’ Union and the student group SSDP in our review of the Illegal Substances (Zero Tolerance) Policy.

“We don’t condone illegal activity but this discussion led to amending the policy balancing deterrence with welfare and education bringing us in line with other universities.”

But despite the policy being amended in May, the university has been slow to publicise the change.

The university’s student resource page still states: “The University has an Owned and Managed Accommodation Illegal Drugs (Zero Tolerance) Policy.”

It adds: “Even the use and/or possession of small amounts of cannabis usually leads to exclusion.”

The page then links to the out-of-date policy.

Zero tolerance posters also still adorn the campus and student accommodation and so SSDP have started working with the university to make students more aware of the change.

“The only notice that students got was in the harm reduction flyers and drug awareness posters that we designed for the university,” Ms Carre added.

“All the freshers got the flyer in the freshers pack and you can get them on campus. So they were given notice.”

When asked why students aren’t be made more aware of the change, a Newcastle University spokesman said: “Our new guidelines form part of the Accommodation Terms and Conditions, which all of our first year students are required to agree to.

“As the policy was in place for the start of the current academic year, all the students who needed to know the policy were informed.

“We do not provide accommodation for second and subsequent years.

“We don’t condone illegal activity and take our duty of care towards our students very seriously. This includes encouraging restraint from using illegal substances and why we have a ‘zero tolerance’ of illegal substances within our residences.

“Our revised policy seeks to reinforce the university’s position of a zero tolerance stance, while at the same time providing guidance and support to all residents.

“New posters have been commissioned which will reflect the emphasis on education and welfare in relation to illegal substances.”