Poll: Should police patrol streets to catch children truanting school?

From this week education welfare officers and police are launching patrols across the Walsall borough in an effort to 'get to grips' with the issue.

The teams will travel round in a marked vehicle to speak to schoolchildren seen out wandering the streets during lesson time and to tell them to return to classes.

Their parents will also be contacted as part of the partnership initiative that will also see anti-social behaviour issues targeted.

Walsall Council's children's services chief Councillor Barbara Cassidy said: "In our drive to improve outcomes for all our children we feel the need to better get to grips with the issue."

"The move is part of the part of a national programme to ensure more pupils are attending schools.

"An education is one of the most important elements to a successful future.

"To learn, grow and achieve, children and young people need to be in school.

"As well as the educational benefits, many children get other benefits from attending school such as interaction with their peers and a healthy meal.

"This is why it is important that we support young people and their families to understand the importance of attending school regularly.

"These regular patrols will also help us to reach out to any children and families who may need some extra support so that we can put them in touch with the right agencies to help them."

Officer on patrol will offer support to young people and their families if they spot any concerns in an effort to provide early help.

The team will also direct families and young people to a range of support and advice as sometimes there can be other issues beyond truancy.

Sgt Gary Iliff, of Walsall Police, said: "These dedicated multi agency patrols will supplement the existing engagement in schools by local neighbourhood teams.

"There will now be greater support for families at the earliest opportunity to maximise educational opportunity in Walsall."

Schoolchildren of all ages will be checked.

The project will run to the end of the current academic year at which time it will be evaluated.

Parents have a legal duty to ensure their child attends school, failure to do so could lead to a hefty fine or even a prison sentence.