POLICE officers will soon be walking the beat through the borough's secondary schools.

Under the School Beat Officer scheme each participating school has a police officer stationed on the premises one or two days a week.

At the official launch on January 24, headteachers signed up to the programme, which eventually all Bromley secondary schools will join.

Schools liaison officer Sergeant David Black has been working on the project for 18 months.

He says the task is to convince parents and teachers the programme is a positive thing and not any sort of stigma on the school.

Security has already improved in some schools which started the scheme in September, with crime and truancy rates falling.

Officers also teach lessons on subjects such as bullying and drugs.

PC Sally Bellchambers is stationed at Coopers Technical College, Hawkwood Lane, Chislehurst, and Darrick Wood School, Lovibonds Avenue, Orpington.

She said: "Being seen around the school gives the pupils confidence to come and talk to us."

College principal Robert Dilley said: "There is always a crowd of pupils around Sally. We feel she is part of Coopers now.

"This is making a big impact. We are changing our relationship with difficult pupils."

Hayes School, West Common Road, Hayes, has had an officer since the beginning of this term.

Headteacher Kieran Osbourne said: "At first they were a bit wary but PC Jo Austin seems to have struck the right balance of trust and respect with the pupils."