High School 'no regrets' over police call-outs

But head Mike Conn insists: 'No regrets. The policy is right. It is supported by police and governors and it stays.'

Calls to the High have ranged from theft and criminal damage to burglary and assault.

Mr Conn said: "The policy is clear - we work with ALL external agencies as a partnership and that includes the police. It is the stated policy of the Governors.

"The implication that this is a crime-ridden school is ridiculous. If a child is approached by a man on the Down what am I supposed to do? Ignore it? There are outside factors involved here as well."

Similarly, the school had been subjected to harassment and foul language from people who have no connection with the school. Mr Conn said: "I am not interested in statistics because if we called police 400 times that is exactly what we have to do."

The school worked in partnership with the police and now has PC Mike Turnbull seconded for two years to the staff, in a move thought to be the first in Sussex.

"We don't see police officers as frightening authority. Of course they are in place to fight crime. But we value working with police.

"I don't regret the policy. I think it is the right policy. It is the agreed policy of the governors.

"The question put to me this morning by the BBC was 'If this policy works you should see a reduction in calls next year.' "I said it may - or it may not."

The High is one of the largest schools in East Sussex. "We are a community of 1,600 young people. Out of that the troublemakers are a miniscule proportion. The vast majority of our pupils are law-abiding citizens who look after each other.

"The greatest benefit of police involvement is immediacy. There is instant action involving the police and the person concerned thinks 'This is serious...'"

PC Turnbull will co-ordinate the Pathways project from September. The head said: "This is a process of individualised learning pathways for students who are at risk of permanent exclusion and therefore to be out in the community.''

Chairman of governors, Cllr Brian Kentfield, told the Observer: "We totally support Mike Conn."