Schoolchildren have called on police to make the streets safer during the first of a series of consultations with young people.

Thames Valley Police Authority spoke to about 100 children from St Birinus School and Didcot Girls' School asking how they should fight crime.

The youngsters raised concerns about safety, especially at night, and had their say about policing priorities.

Police now plan to visit every secondary school in south Oxfordshire when the scheme is rolled out across the county.

Thames Valley Police Authority, police community support officers and South Oxfordshire District Council visited the two schools on Thursday.

Matt Poffley, 16, of St Birinus School said: "We want them to make the streets safer and put more police on the streets.

"Pcsos are there, but police officers have more rights and can make arrests.

"It was nice that they asked us and showed they were taking an interest in what we thought."

Hazel Bell, chairman of the TVPA Oxfordshire police committee, said the authority wanted to encourage more young people to have their say about local policing because very few turn up at public meetings.

She said: "It was obvious we were not reaching young people and it is really important we give them a voice.

"Everybody moans about young people and thinks they cause problems. But young people are victims of crime, too, and there are many good boys and girls just trying to get on and live in the community."

The responses will be fed into future policing plans and neighbourhood action groups, which set local policing priorities.

Ms Bell added: "The information may well change some of these priorities.

"Young people are an important part of the community and we want to find out why they are worried out and about in our towns and villages.

"We also want to see if we are doing anything right so we can continue to do it. Young people don't feel safe on the streets and we need to know how we can help. This can be achieved with simple things like fixing street lights."

Around 50 students from each school aged between 11 and 16 were quizzed.

Paul Willett, assistant head teacher at Didcot Girls' School, said: "It was a great way for young people to express their concerns directly to the people who make decisions in our area.

"I hope they share their findings with the young people."

Tom Arnold, deputy headteacher at St Birinus School, said: "They enjoyed the experience and we would like to do it again in the future."

Pupils at Lord Williams's School in Thame, Gillotts School in Henley, Icknield Community College in Watlington and Wallingford School will be next to give their opinions.