MORE than 50 children have been stopped and spoken to by police community support officers and education welfare officers in the latest truancy crackdown in Folkestone, Hythe and surrounding areas.

The truancy sweep took place on Wednesday and Thursday as part of Kent Police’s Safer Autumn initiative, which is focusing on anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder.

The majority of the young people stopped were accompanied by their parents and had a genuine reason for being out of school. Nine had no valid reason for being out of school, while two had been excluded from their schools.

* Folkestone town centre: 34 stopped; four with no valid reason, two had been excluded.

* Lydd, Romney, Dymchurch and Hythe: 18 stopped; five with no valid reason.

Education Welfare officers from KCC will be contacting the parents and schools of the children who were suspected of truanting to offer advice and guidance.

The parents will also be warned about the consequences of persistently failing to ensure their children’s attendance at school which can include a fine and in some cases a prison sentence:

Under the Education Act 1996, parents can be prosecuted in a magistrates' court for failing to secure regular school attendance.

For this offence they can be fined a maximum of £1,000. There is, however, a more serious offence, which carries a maximum fine of £2,500, or three months imprisonment for parents who are aware of their child's absence and fail to provide a justifiable reason.

WPC Fran Fryer-Kelsey, the youth crime reduction officer for the Shepway area, said: “Truancy is a serious issue and we will continue to work with the education service to clamp down on it.”

She added: "Not only does it have a negative impact on the child's education, it can lead to an increase in crimes such as shoplifting and vandalism, as those involved have little money and nothing to do."