Sussex Police reviewing school officers policy

A spokesman said the force recognised the need to ‘work differently’ in the future.

Superintendent Laurence Taylor said: “It is key for police forces to have a continued footprint in schools.

“It is essential to maintain a footprint in schools but we recognise that we can’t continue to do it the same way we always have.

“We need to explore new ways of supporting schools and putting resource to those areas that need it the most.”

Mr Taylor is the policing lead for children and young people in the South East.

He deputises for Sussex Police Deputy Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, the national police lead for the area.

Mr Taylor added: “If we don’t get it right with policing in schools, we miss opportunities to intervene at an early stage to prevent children’s behavioural issues becoming more problematic in later life.

“It is essential that we break down barriers between children and police, intervene early when problems do arise and support schools in pupils’ education, regarding issues such as online safety.”

In March, Sussex Police announced 1,000 police jobs will go as the force attempted to cut £56million from its budget by 2020.

The cuts followed £50million of savings which had been made over the past five years as part of the Serving Sussex 2015 programme.

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