MORE than 50 children were stopped and questioned during a crackdown on high truancy levels in the New Forest.

The two-day campaign was carried out in four towns across the district, which has one of the worst truancy rates in Hampshire.

Police patrolled the streets of Lymington, Totton, Hythe and New Milton looking for children who should have been at school.

Some of those who were caught playing hookey were taken back to school, while others had their names and address taken.

Sian Harper, manager of Hampshire County Council's education welfare team for the New Forest, said: "Unfortunately the truancy rate in the New Forest is unacceptably high.

"It's also disturbing that many of the absences are condoned by parents.

"The education welfare service works closely with parents, pupils and schools to try to resolve attendance difficulties. However, we will prosecute parents of children who persistently fail to attend school.''

The crackdown on pupils was part of a national drive to improve school attendance figures across the country.

Illness was the most common excuse given to truancy teams in the Forest. Other explanations included shopping for school uniform, medical appointments and bullying.

Nationally, 25 per cent of burglaries and 33 per cent of car thefts are carried out by teenagers when they should be at school.

Supt Paul Colley, head of New Forest police, said there was an acknowledged link between truancy and crime.

He added: "We are determined to reduce both and feel we can do this by working with local education officers. "There will be more truancy sweeps and anti-truancy initiatives during 2003.''

In 2001-2002, 660 New Forest youngsters were referred to social workers.

Some 533 of the cases concerned erratic school attendance.

Nearly 40 parents were prosecuted for their child's non-attendance.

Ten families were issued with parenting orders, which aimed to ensure they received the guidance and counselling necessary to prevent any further problems.

A county council spokesman said the courts issued more parenting orders in the Forest in 2001-2002 than any other part of Hampshire.

Parents who allow their children to miss school can be jailed for a maximum of three months or fined up to £2,500.

Last year Patricia Amos was sent to prison after action brought by Oxfordshire education authority over her daughters' truancy.

Similar crackdowns have been taking place at Southampton, including shopping centres.