The new police powers are a clear message that the Government is determined to stop truancy.
Truancy is a big problem.
Tackling the causes of crime and addressing youth crime problems at grass roots is a key Government pledge. Tackling truancy and preventing the descent into a career of crime is an important step in meeting this pledge . In many areas the police already work with schools and local authorities to tackle local truancy problems, but have previously lacked the explicit legal backing to do anything when a child has been found out of school. The Crime and Disorder Act gives the police legal support. The Government has also launched a package of measures worth 5OO million over three years to reduce school exclusions and truancy by a third by 2002.