A TRUANCY blitz is set to continue in Southampton – with police vowing to swoop on pupils’ homes and escort them into school.

Police and education chiefs have launched a new get-tough policy aimed at preventing teenagers skipping lessons and getting involved in crime or antisocial behaviour.

It follows a major operation carried out in four areas with some of the highest truancy rates in the city.

Pupils caught skipping school were rounded up and taken back to class, with police pledging to carry out similar sweeps in the future.

Two years ago it was revealed that Southampton’s primary schoolchildren were among the worst truants in the country.

Figures from the Department for Education showed that the city’s truancy rate was the highest in the south east.

The latest anti-truancy operation was conducted in Coxford, Millbrook, Regents Park and Upper Shirley.

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) visited several schools and obtained the names and addresses of pupils suspected of being absent without a reason.

Nineteen of the 29 children were found at home or nearby. They were either spoken to in front of their parents or taken to school, depending on the time of day.

There was no answer at ten of the addresses.

Police Inspector John McGonigle said: “This was a successful and timely operation that will help tackle antisocial behaviour in the Shirley area.”

He added: “I’m pleased that the reaction from everyone involved was so positive in dealing with issues that are often raised as concerns by local residents.”

Parents can be fined £120 if their children play truant.

But they usually escape prosecution if pupils are found to have had a genuine illness, even though families are supposed to notify the school.

Regents Park Community College was one of the schools visited but no pupils were identified as being absent without permission from the school.

Head teacher Jonty Archibald welcomed the initiative.

“Two PCSOs came in and asked if there was anyone we wanted them to call on but there wasn’t,” added Mr Archibald.

“Our attendance is very good – it’s above the national average.”

Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Dan Jeffery said: “Tackling absences is at the top of our priorities in getting the best outcomes for our young people.”

TRUANCY FACT FILE

  • The number of £120 spot fines issued to parents across the country soared last year.
  • A record 52,370 penalty notices were handed out in 2012/13 – up from 41,224 in a year.
  • Four in ten parents – about 21,000 – failed to pay and ended up being prosecuted.
  • But the number of “persistent absentees” fell to 300,985.