POLICE will be patrolling the playgrounds of three Worcester schools to curb bad behaviour and help students at risk, it has been revealed.

The police community support officers (PCSOs) are to be placed in Worcester schools to make them safer and tackle crime from today as part of a Safer Schools Programme, run by West Mercia Police and the Warwickshire force.

Aimed at improving school safety, preventing crime, and raising educational achievement, the forces say the officers will focus on early intervention and prevention for students at risk.

The chosen schools – Nunnery Wood High School in Spetchley Road, Worcester, Bishop Perowne CE College in Merriman’s Hill and Christopher Whitehead Language College in Bromwich Road – are where the forces think a PCSO would have the greatest impact.

Gareth Morgan, assistant chief constable of West Mercia Police, said the officers would serve a dual purpose.

“The scheme will not only help prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, but will also give young people support and advice so that they can stay safe and do well at school,” he said.

MP Robin Walker, senior council representatives and the PCSO are to attend a launch event today at Bishop Perowne between noon and 1pm.

The Chase High School in Geraldine Road, Malvern, and Evesham High in Four Pools Road, Evesham, will also get their own PCSOs.

In the north of the county, Baxter College, Kingsley College, Stourport High School, King Charles I and RSA Academy Arrow Vale will also see PCSOs on site.

The scheme aims to improve school safety, prevent crime, and raise educational achievement with a focus on early intervention and prevention for students at risk.

Bill Longmore, police and crime commissioner for the West Mercia region, said: “A PCSO presence will help us to provide essential support and guidance to young people, while ensuring that they feel safe and secure.

"It will also enable us to strengthen the links between the local community and the police service.”

Three schools – Hereford Academy; RSA Academy Arrow Vale, Redditch; and Ercall Wood Technology College, Telford – have already been involved in a pilot scheme over the past year.

Activities undertaken so far include arranging out-of-school activities, assembly inputs, meeting parents, patrolling the area before and after school and linking with feeder schools.

This scheme was originally launched in six Warwickshire schools in 2008 with Home Office funding as a local authority and police partnership.

West Mercia Police says PCSOs have a wider benefit for the community.

“PCSOs are members of police staff who carry out a range of activities to support regular police officers,” said a spokesman.

“They are trained to calm heated situations and defuse hostility, but are not expected to deal with violent incidents, including arrests, and have radio access so they can call for assistance if necessary.”