MORE than 100 children have been stopped in the street across the district during school hours, during a joint operation targeting truancy.

Essex County Council and community policing team officers have been working since last April to tackle the issue with a number of pro-active patrols in Loughton, Epping, Ongar, Waltham Abbey and the surrounding villages.

A plain-clothed police officer patrols with an education welfare officer and stops any young people who appear to be of school age. Authorisation for the specific day is granted under the Crime and Disorder Act, which allows the team to remove any truants to a designated safe location staffed by the Education Welfare Service, or be returned to school.

The youngster's school and parents are then contacted.

Across the district, 112 students have been stopped, with the schools notified of any pupils not returned by the teams.

Education welfare service senior practitioner Jo Barclay said: "This has proved to be a valuable exercise, fully supported by local schools. It sends out a positive message to the community that regular attendance is vital to educational achievement and is an excellent example of joint working between the police and the service."

Police Sgt Sean O'Callaghan said: "We have enjoyed working with our colleagues from the Education Welfare Service tackling this age-old problem.

"Research shows that truancy has links with minor crime and we are tackling these issues to ensure peoples' quality of life."

December 28, 2001 13:11