BUDGET cuts have “decimated” police officers who work with schools to support and educate youngsters, teachers claim.

There are 21 Essex Police youth officers across the county’s ten policing districts, meaning two in Southend, two in Basildon and two for Castle Point and Rochford.

Formerly known as school liaison officers, the total number was reduced from 28 two-and-a-half years ago leaving some schools worried the service could decline further.

Greg Rodulfo, vice-principal at Belfairs Academy, in Leigh, believes a cut in numbers of officers across the county is finally beginning to bite.

He said: “They used to be able to work together with schools, but now they are just firefighting, the work they could do has been decimated.

“They are expected to support thousands of pupils across Southend and we have a lot of vulnerable students in terms of what they do when they are not in school.

“People have just become very complacent and they watch on and just accept these things go, but they shouldn’t.”

Desi McKeown, headteacher at the Deanes School, in Thundersley, values the service and does not want to see any further reduction in officers.

The school has a designated officer, who also works with other secondary schools in the Castle Point borough, to work with children and visits the school once a week.

He said: “She is at the end of the phone for advice and will come in for visits whenever needed.

“It could beameeting between two students to work through a disagreement, or teaching them about the dangers of social media.

“We really value the service as it is and want to keep it.”

The role of a youth officer is full time and involves working with young people to prevent them from offending or becoming a victim of crime.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “They support young people in and out of school, therefore may be involved in duties that are not within the actual school, but perhaps dealing and supporting young people within their communities.”