Senlac police and educational welfare officers were out in force in Hastings and Bexhill on a day long blitz in October searching for children playing truant from school.
This is the second time this year Senlac police officers, in partnership with the educational welfare officers, have used the new powers given by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, to take truants back to school.
Forty one children were stopped in Hastings and St Leonards and 12 taken back to their schools. In Bexhill, nine were returned to school and 30 home visits were arranged by the welfare officers to speak to parents about their children.
Sergeant Mark Bright from Senlac Community Safety Unit said: "We were keen to follow up the success of the first operation we undertook in July this year.
the issue of truancy has been highlighted in the national press lately and government figures show that at least one million children take at least one half day off a year without authority; some confidential surveys have shown much higher levels than this.
"Truancy carries a cost both to the children involved and society as a whole. Studies have found that truants are more likely than others to leave school with few or no qualifications, they are more likely to be out of work and eventually become homeless. Truancy is also closely associated with crime: the Audit Commission has found that a quarter of school age offenders have truanted significantly".
In partnership with the East Sussex Educational Welfare Department, Senlac officers are keen to support this work. Parents and children can expect further initiatives over the coming months.
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This page last updated: 03/01/2001