MANAGERS at a controversial rehabilitation centre at Highampton last week took an instant hard line with trainees, after cannabis was discovered at the premises.

But swift action by them and the police has done little to reassure campaigners who fought to stop the centre moving to the village.

The drugs were smuggled into the C-FAR offender rehabilitation base at Burdon Grange by a new trainee, on temporary licence from Dartmoor Prison.

After an investigation, staff found that six of the 18 trainees on the course had used the drug. Following detailed interviews, the six were told they would have to leave C-FAR and were returned to their home towns.

The trainee from Dartmoor tried to run away from Highampton but was later caught by officers who used the police helicopter in their hunt for the man.

The use of drugs and alcohol is strictly against the rules at C-FAR and trainees are warned that drug abuse will result from them being instantly removed from the programme.

Trevor Philpott, C-FAR chief executive, said: 'This is clearly a very regrettable incident. It was particularly encouraging to note that thirteen other trainees were not tempted to join their peers and they are to be commended for their level of personal discipline and commitment to change their lives.

'The programme is very demanding and we simply do not permit the use of drugs and alcohol.'

Mr Philpott said staff at C-FAR stress upon trainees that they must take responsibility for their lives and their actions.

'It all comes down to choices and it is important that all current and future trainees understand this.

'Those who used the drug made a choice and they must now accept the consequences of that decision.'

Mr Philpott said C-FAR was 'naturally sensitive' to the concerns of local people at Highampton, some of whom campaigned vigorously to try and stop the centre moving to the village from its previous temporary base at Okehampton Camp.

He said because of these concerns, C-FAR had an agreement with the police that any incident at the centre was reported immediately.

Richard White, C-FAR spokesman, said it was the first time there had been a drugs incident at the base.

He said: 'It's very disappointing, but we do have these rules. We do say "No drugs, no violence, no alcohol". If people don't want to go to a class or lesson, we can negotiate around that, or if someone needs to get home to see someone, but if someone is caught with drugs, it's not negotiable.'

Mr White said despite the de-classification of cannabis last week, the rules were not likely to change and would still be enforced vigorously.

And he urged anyone in the village who had concerns about the incident to come and talk to staff at the centre.

'We would be delighted if they would come and talk to us. We really want to engage with people locally, to make their lives easier and ours. We are really trying to work with them.'

But Mike Puckey, chairman of Highampton Action Group, claimed there was little point in speaking with C-FAR.

He said C-FAR stated the absconded trainee had been safely caught by police on Thursday evening, whereas the police actually captured him early on Saturday morning.

'The residents of Highampton were left from Thursday until Saturday thinking that the prisoner had been caught, whereas he was still at large,' said Mr Puckey.

'There is little point in any discourse existing between us and them, if this is what they recognise as the truth.'

And David Richards, who lives close to Burdon Grange, said the incident would worry villagers.

Mr Richards said: 'A lot of police time and money was tied up with this and I wonder how many more incidents there will be before the police start insisting on proper containment of these criminals.

'The only containment they have is their word of honour not to break the rules. Nothing has happened to villagers yet, but that's not to say it's not going to happen in the future.'