Police officers could soon be stationed in Bradford secondary schools under proposals being unveiled today by Education Secretary Estelle Morris.

Schools in the 30 or 40 local education authorities with the most serious discipline and truancy problems - which includes Bradford - are to be offered the opportunity of full-time police 'back-up'.

Initially, the £10 million scheme will only have the resources to fund a police officer in one or two schools in each district.

Participation in the scheme, starting this autumn, will be voluntary.

Having a police officer on-site full-time would help schools become secure, a DfES spokesman said. Teaching unions are likely to welcome the initiative as it could offer protection against the growing problem of pupil assaults on staff.

But today Councillor David Ward, executive member for education, said he was "nervous" about the idea of putting officers into schools full-time.

"I worry that it sends a signal - are you saying that a particular school is so bad it needs a police officer in it?"

The Education Secretary was expected to stress she did not want to undermine the role of heads as the people with responsibility for discipline in their schools.

But some schools had such problems with bad behaviour and crime that they should have the opportunity for this kind of aid, she was set to add.

A DfES spokesman said: "Most schools are well disciplined and well-behaved with good standards and good leadership from heads.

"But there is a hardcore of schools where heads need every tool in the box to instil discipline and we are determined to give them the opportunity for extra back-up, and that includes the police."