Are police in schools a good idea?

Every school should have their own police officer to help cut crime, according to education bosses.

Loads of schools already have a police officer to help tackle problems like bullying and truancy, but now some people think all schools should have one.

So would you like one based at your school? If so, why? Maybe you've already got one?

What difference has it made? Do you feel safer? Does everyone behave better knowing there's a police officer around?

Maybe you think they should spend more time tackling crime on the streets rather than in schools?

Unfortunately this topic is now closed, but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat page.

Your Comments

"I think it is great idea because you feel more safe."

Jackson, 11, Manchester, England

"I think it's a great idea. I would feel a lot safer at school. It would stop the bullies."

Lily, 14, Devon, England

"I think that it is a good idea because if something happens then you can tell the police about it and if you get bullied then you can tell the police, then they will stop it."

Charlotte, 13, East Sussex

"We have two police officers at our school - they even have their own office. They are the local policeman and woman for my village, but they don't do much at school. They never tell anyone off. I've been at the school for three years and I don't really know what they are for."

Ellie, 14, Warrington, England

"There's no point in bringing police into schools; they are just doing the same jobs as teachers, except they have different qualifications. They could be saving people's lives on the streets and yet they are wasting time in schools."

Evie, 14, London, England

"We have a police officer in our school. Our class can see both sides of the argument. We think it's a bad idea because it restricts our freedom and they don't do very much. But we also think it could be a good idea as it makes us feel safer and stops people fighting and doing other things they shouldn't."

Class 7A, ages 11-12, Cumbria, England

"I think having police in school is a bad idea. It will make people feel insecure about doing what they want because they think they will get told off."

Harry, 13, Bristol, England

"I think it is a wonderful idea because more children will stop bullying and fighting."

Tolga, 11, London, England

"I think police in schools are a good idea because of people trying to get stuff like knives in school and people nicking stuff from school."

Daniel, 13, Bristol, England

"I think it's a brilliant idea because more children will feel safe and bullying will reduce."

Ali, 11, London, England

"I think it would be great causes they're easier to talk to, as well as keeping everything in order."

Bethan, 13, Hertfordshire, England

"I think it would be a really stupid idea to have a police officer in schools because it will take away your freedom and it will be like you're being watched the whole time."

Duncan, 12, Inverness, Scotland

"We think that it might be a good idea to have a police officer in larger secondary schools where there are problems. We didn't think that primary schools would need their own police officer, but did think that it would be a good idea to have police visiting the school once a term, or on a regular basis."

Class 15, Studfall Junior School, England

"It is good to have police officers; however it is scary because you might be accused of something you didn't do."

Aamina, 10, Bradford, England

"I think that having police in school is a bad idea because they are wasting their time sorting school stuff out instead of sorting out real crime like murder and theft."

Tiffany, 14, Eastbourne, England

"We think having police in schools is a good idea. We are at a primary school and we think having a police officer would be good to help make us feel safe."

Year 6, Bolton, England

"I think the only people on here who would feel nervous about having a school police officer are probably people who get into trouble a lot. I think it is a bad idea because there wouldn't be enough police officers to respond to a major crime."

Jordan, 12, Newcastle, England

"Well… Maybe schools could have a security guard, for security. But not to deliver punishments."

Emily, 11, Lancashire, England

"I think both sides. I think it would be bad because it would be a bit scary the police watching your every move. I think it would be good as well, because there would be less bullies in and around so your school would be much safer and happier."

Zoe, 10, Bath, England

"We have an officer that comes to our school and works there 3 days a week but we hardly ever see him!"

Ashley, 13, Buckinghamshire, England

"We have a police officer that stays at our school. I think it helps to keep the kids controlled, because they know that they will be punished if they do wrong."

Ronnie, 13, USA

"I think it's an idiotic idea because we don't need extra people at schools to tell us off for just running or shouting in the hall way because our teachers do that anyway!!!!!"

Nathan, 11, Doncaster, England

"I think it is a bad idea. We need to learn to look after ourselves. If I look at it another way however, loads of people vandalise stuff at school so it would be good to put a stop to it. But what would the police actually do about it? They can't arrest pupils!"

Adam, 12, Solihull, England

"It is really unfair that we should have a police officer in our schools because if we were really bad, like shouting near a police officer, then you will be told off for shouting. So yeah, it is unfair that we should have police officers at school."

Emily, 11, Crawley, England

"I think it is a good idea, we have one at school, and she helps out if there is any trouble."

Niloufar, 13, Halifax, England

"I think it is stupid. We do not need a policeman to protect us, we have teachers to do that. if we get hurt we can tell them."

Oliver, 10, Isle of Wight, England

"I think it's a bit stupid because why would we need police in school? Schools are about learning and not a place for police."

Jade, 13, Manchester, England

"No - because it will make children nervous and as if they are in a prison. You will not be able to do anything because you are being watched by police or CCTV cameras. Please let us have freedom."

Rachel, 11, Swindon, England

"I think it's a good idea as it stops more kids from getting into trouble."

Amy, 11, Swindon, England

"I have a school policeman in my school and I think it is a really good idea because if something happens the school doesn't have to call the police and wait for a while for them to get there."

Aimee, 13, Norwich, England

"I think they should give more authority to teachers instead of having police in school. "

Ailsa, eight-and-a-half, Edinburgh, Scotland

"We have a regular and friendly police officer coming into our school. There are no problems with this . I don't know why people are making a big fuss , it's for our own safety !"

Candice, 14, Leeds, England

"I go to a school where there is often a pair of community support officers wandering around. They were even marking valuable possessions with an infra red visible pen. It is a great idea because it minimizes vandalism and bullying because they will get seen and possibly arrested."

Owen, 11, Orpington, England

"I think we shouldn't have police officers patrolling our school because then it'll make it feel like a prison and like we're hamsters trapped in a ball!!!"

Zoe, 11, UK

"It is a good idea because children will listen to the police more than the teachers as I have police at my school and it normally works."

Hollie, 11, Huddersfield

"It's pointless, the police should be concentrating on real crimes."

Bethan, 14, Gloucester, England

"I think that police should be in school to teach the kids a lesson because I like working in school but the boys in my school mess around and talk. The teacher spends her time kicking kids out of the lesson."

Matty, 11, London, England

"It's good and bad. Good cause like others have said they will stop rude behaviour and bullying but no because I don't like being watched. I don't mind if there was police looking out after school or basically outside, because that already happens in our school and it's not a pain but inside everyone will find it annoying."

Saba, 13, Birmingham, UK

"I think there is no point because your teachers are there if you do anything wrong."

Jack, 11, Eastbourne, England

"I think it will be a great idea to have police in schools all over the UK because it will make students feel safer and will HOPEFULLY cut down on the amount of fights at break and lunch!"

Danny, 13, St Ives, UK

"There may be problems such as bullying, but I don't think that police should be called. It would be like making school a prison, which can't encourage good behaviour."

Andrea, 11, Peterborough, England

"It's good that kids will think twice before playing up in class, but don't the police have better things to do like catching murderers and drug dealers than to be chasing after petty bullies and lippy kids."

Luke, 11, Pinner, UK

"Yes, it is a good idea because they make sure the playground isn't vandalised, and to make sure we feel safe in school. My school has a police officer and whenever she comes in the morning in the playground, everyone crowds round her and asks her questions!"

Samantha, 11, London, England

"I don't think it's a very good idea for each school to have a police man as the police could do a much better job stopping crimes. So teachers should tell pupils off as that is part of their job."

Jody, 13, Solihull, England

"I think that it is a good idea to have police in schools but we also need to save some for our towns to be safe as well."

Emma, 12, Leatherhead, England

"I think that if teachers can't control their students then they shouldn't teach. Police could be off saving lives rather then dealing with silly teenagers. I think the parents should have a say before the police come because they are responsible for their child."

Jane, 12, Bournemouth, England

"I think it's a bad idea because you won't get any privacy."

Adam, 9, Pershore, England

''I think it would be so silly! Kids don't want police hanging around all the time, watching their every move.''

Laura, 9, Nuneaton, England

"I think it is a good idea, but before we put police in schools we should make sure there are enough in shopping centres etc. Because you hardly ever see police in my area. And I would prefer to feel safer when out shopping because I am already quite happy at my school."

Evie, 13, Cheam, England

"We have just got a police officer in our school and he's already making a difference to our school."

Jack, 12, Wirral, UK

"I think it would be a bad idea because children might think they are nasty and wouldn't act normal."

Ellie, 11, Margam, Wales

"I think it is a good idea because if a serious fight happens between 2 pupils then the police can step in and stop them."

Luke, 13, Nottingham, England

"Our school has 2 police officers in about once a week, everyone behaves more when they are there and no people trespass on the school."

Rosie, 12, Alton, England

"Why do kids have to put up with police men at schools. Even though I am in primary I think it is wrong. What could kids do at schools? It is just plain stupid."

Abbey, 10, Liverpool, England

"Yeah, it would make students feel safer."

Rabiat, 11, Whitehaven, England

"We sometimes have a policeman outside our school, we also get one in at lunch with free pencils and stuff which I think is a great idea."

Louise, 12, Woking, England

"The police are meant to stop law breaking, and as far as I know there have been no illegal things going on at my school."

John, 13, Scarborough, England

"Well at my school, last Wednesday, a man came into the school (he had been expelled) and started mucking about and wouldn't leave. So the school had to call the police, but if there had been a police man there, he would have been caught earlier and we wouldn't have missed Food Tech."

Oliver, 13, Newbury, England

"We have police in my school and I think it helps because everyone behaves more when they are around."

Ellie, 14, London, England

"I do think it's a good idea to have police in schools that have a high record of crime. This would protect students and teachers!"

Hannah, 14, England

"I think police in schools are a good idea because it will stop bullying and also bad behaviour."

Jordan, 14, Shrewsbury, England

"I think it's a good idea to have police in schools because it will stop a lot of bullying taking place."

Ben, 14, Dover, United Kingdom

"I think it's a very good idea because it will stop lots of illegal things going on and people will be more aware of what they are doing."

Anne, 12, Milton Keynes, England

"I think they have enough work to do as it is without bringing them into schools."

Vicky, 15, Derby, UK

"I would like a police officer in my school to stop bullying."

John, 11, Hull, England

"Definitely, a good idea."

Lucy, 11, London, England

"I think it's a bad idea because it's not fair to be watched all the time. There should be a community police officer, not lots of them. It's not fair to be watched all the time."

Jodie, 14, Watford, England