Police and youth service workers will patrol Gipton, Seacroft, Crossgates, Halton, Harehills, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill and stop young people who are not in the classroom during school hours, whether alone or accompanied by a parent or carer.

The team will check streets, shopping centres and other places as well as carrying out visits to the young people and their parents at home.

The aim is to reduce truancy, anti-social behaviour and crimes which are being committed by young people who should be in school.

Parents or carers of pupils found to be truanting or persistently absent from school could also face prosecution. Young people who are stopped by the patrols will be returned to school or taken home and follow-up letters will be sent to parents and to their schools.

North east Leeds truancy officer Pc Graham Gregory said: "We have found that young people who skip school often commit low-level crimes and behave in an anti-social manner."

Education Leeds chief executive Chris Edwards said: "Latest figures show that our attendance initiatives have proved to be successful. This new programme can only help develop this work."