POLICE officers, along with education and welfare officials, will be carrying out truancy checks in the next few weeks right across Maidstone and Malling area.

Young people of school age who are found not to be in class when the checks are made will be spoken to.

Those who are not with parents will be returned to their school or to their home, where necessary.

Maidstone and Malling Police's youth crime reduction officer, PC Paul Richardson, said:

“It is very important that truancy checks are carried out to ensure young people are attending school.

"I would urge parents to emphasise this importance and also to reinforce it by not condoning unauthorised absence. During previous checks we have carried out, a large number of young people were found to be "off school ill" but had been taken shopping by their parents.

"Education welfare officers will follow up any young people found to be out of school, for whatever reason.”