Dealers target Highgate School as signs stuck to trees offering ‘high quality’ cannabis for sale

Last month, similar adverts were put up along The Bishops Avenue, known as Billionaires’ Row
Pupils outside Highgate School, north London
REUTERS
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

A leading independent school has issued warnings to parents after posters promoting the sale of cannabis were stuck on lampposts and trees around the building.

Arthur Dabrowski, acting deputy head of Highgate Senior School on North Road, said the material found “presents a safeguarding risk” to pupils aged 11 to 18 in the north London enclave.

The posters direct users to a drug dealer’s website offering “guaranteed high quality weed” delivered within 24 hours.

Last month, similar adverts were put up on street signs along The Bishops Avenue, the Highgate street known as Billionaires’ Row.

The pusher’s Bitz 420 site boasts illegal Class B drugs can be purchased from the “comfort of your home” via bank transfers and cryptocurrency.

The blub continues: “Our aim is to make it easier for people to buy high quality cannabis in the UK.

A cannabis cigarette being rolled
PA

“With the ever-changing world and technology, the old school way of meeting a dealer on a street corner is outdated.”

Their website falsely claims the Government will change legislation around cannabis in the near future, adding: “All of our weed is sourced from connections and relationships with growers spanning over a decade period.

“Know what you’re buying beforehand, read the reviews, research online about the weed, check the pictures, order and have the weed delivered to your door within one to three days - in most cases the next day.”

But Mr Dabrowski said in an email to parents: “I am writing to let you know that we have become aware of a number of advertisements posted near the school site, and indeed across north London, advertising the illegal sale of cannabis.

“We have shared information relating to the posters in Highgate with our police contacts, and will remove any signs that are within sight of the school buildings.

“I would also encourage any parents to remove signage of this nature, should they come across it.

“Clearly, this material presents a safeguarding risk to our community and we are keen for it not to have any impact on pupils.”

Founded over 450 years ago, Highgate was named London independent school of the decade by the Sunday Times in 2021.

Around 83 per cent of its sixth formers were awarded A* or A for their A levels in 2023.

The maximum sentence for supplying cannabis is 14 years in prison.

Highgate School and the Metropolitan Police were approached for further comment.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in