STOURPORT High School and Language College has become the first Wyre Forest school to adopt an innovative scheme aimed at breaking down the barriers between police and pupils.

The town's beat officer, Jon Harris, has formalised an on-going partnership with the Minster Road school and will now have a permanent base to liaise with youngsters and staff.

PC Harris has been holding informal weekly beat surgeries there for the last two years and the move, which will mean him having a fixed office on site, was seen as a "natural progression".

Headteacher Liz Quinn said the scheme would have "many advantages" and hoped the citizenship project would boost the Stourport community as a whole.

She explained: "It is going to be a very good opportunity for our students to learn at first hand what being a good citizen means.

"Pc Harris will be on site and because of that students will be able to raise any issues or concerns directly with him and we can actively engage them in responsible and active citizenship."

The policeman, who is both a governor of the high school and secondary school due to open in September, 2007, was looking forward to the project.

PC Harris said: "There is not a problem at all within the school. This will just give the chance for pupils and teachers to be able to have a talk with us about any concerns they might have to do with crime, drugs and other matters."