A CRACKDOWN on truants is planned in Bury by Education Welfare Service staff.
From Wednesday to Friday youngsters spotted out on the streets in school time, even those accompanied by parents, will be quizzed as to whether or not they have an authorised absence from school.
The latest "sweep" follows on from similar, but unannounced patrols which took place in November.
Then 82 children and young people, the majority of them accompanied by adults at the time, were stopped and questioned.
Bury Metro's Executive Member for Lifelong Learning, Councillor Steve Perkins, said: "It is disturbing to find the large number of youngsters whose absence from school is being condoned by their parents or guardians.
"This is wrong and we want to make it clear that we are not prepared to tolerate this continuing. Children who are not in school are missing out on vital education and it is the duty of their parents or carers to ensure that does not happen. So far we have only issued warnings as a result of children and young people who have been stopped by the patrols."
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