Schools in Sussex are paying more than £100,000 a year to have police officers on site.

Six schools in East Sussex and ten in West Sussex paid Sussex Police for a community support officer.

Chichester College spent £21,000 and Steyning Grammar School £20,000.

King’s Manor Community College, Shoreham, Bognor Regis Community College and Littlehampton Community School each paid £9,000.

In Crawley, Thomas Bennett Community College paid £9,170, Oriel High School £8,300 and St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School £4,500.

Chichester Boys and Chichester Girls High Schools shared a PCSO at a cost of £12,000.

In East Sussex six schools each paid £4,700.

Hailsham Community College, Heathfield Community College and Willingdon Community College shared an officer. Beacon Community College in Crowborough, Uckfield Community College and Uplands Community College in Wadhurst shared another.

The schools believe the officers help reduce crime and nip problems in the bud.

A Government report said: “Together, they can identify, support and work with children and young people at risk of victimisation, offending or social exclusion.”

It said working with an officer reduced truancy, antisocial behaviour and offending, and improved relations between young people and the police.

A spokeswoman for East Sussex County Council said: “Our secondary schools work closely with police and other bodies as part of a communitywide crime prevention strategy.

“Schools have pooled their resources with the police to ensure the best possible outcome for students.”

West Sussex County Council leader Henry Smith said: “We encourage a strong link between the police and individual schools.

“Anything that makes the grounds safer and fosters a greater respect between young people and the police can only be good.”