POLICE, politicians and teachers will forge links this week to look at a new approach to tackling crime.

Northumbria Police chiefs will meet headteachers and education minister David Milliband in a conference.

Cops, Kids and Schools will be held in Sunderland, where Northumbria Police has implemented the schools/police partnership, which has received widespread praise and recognition.

Several different models, highlighting how police forces can work with schools, will be looked at.

In particular, two schools - Pallion Primary and New Silksworth Infant school - which have received international recognition, will be examined.

Both have successfully built a relationship with the communities they serve by housing community police teams in their premises.

The conference is on Friday at the Stadium of Light.