A TRUANCY crackdown in Bordon has been hailed as a major success by police officers and county council workers who caught 30 children skipping school last Thursday.
Education officers and police officers took part in a series of sweeps around Bordon as part of a county initiative to lookout for truants.
Street patrols were sent out to talk to youngsters on the streets who were not in school, and if they were playing truant, they were taken back to the classroom and their parents notified.
Inspector Gerry Thorne from Whitehill police station told The Herald that he was pleased with the results from the local crackdown.
"We found 30 pupils who were out of school without permission," he said.
"Either they had not gone to school or they were out of lessons without a pass."
Education officers and police officers worked with schools in the town to gather a list of regular "non attenders" to aim them in their efforts.
Police officers have been using new powers given under the Crime and Disorder Act (1998), which allow them to return children to school or another safe place. Previously, they were restricted to verbal warnings.
The 30 young people who were caught playing truant will now be registered by the county council and police, and follow up action will be taken including advice and guidance.
"We centred on the Bordon area and most of the children who were out of school without permission were of secondary school age so we were working
very closely with Mill Chase on this.
"However there were some children who were out of school legitimately."
Insp Thorne told The Herald that the day-long operation was a huge success which he hoped to repeat in the near future.
And he warned would-be truants that if they were caught for a second time, that their parents faced prosecution and a huge fine.
The county council is currently in the process of collating the results, which it will use to identify any appropriate follow-up action with individuals.
Don Allen, executive member for education, said: "We are already noticing that a majority of the children who were stopped were with a parent or carer and in some cases they did not have a good reason for being away from school. For example, they were visiting relatives or on a family holiday.
"The number of children who play truant in Hampshire is tiny, with overall unauthorised absence rates below the national average. However,we are committed to ensuring that these are further reduced - enabling all pupils to get the very best start in life."