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Crossgates Shopping Centre: Truancy team on patrol
Children who skip school classes are being targeted by a new anti-truancy team who were out on patrol at Crossgates Shopping Centre.
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The squad of police officers and Education Leeds youth workers are aiming to improve attendance rates of schools while tackling criminal behaviour.
The project has been put in place as the Government announces extra cash for the region to tackle youth crime, which is often associated with truancy.
The new East Truancy Watch will focus on Gipton, Seacroft, Cross Gates, Halton, Harehills, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill, stopping and speaking to children who are not at school during school hours, whether alone or accompanied by a parent.
PC Graham Gregory, north east Leeds truancy officer with West Yorkshire Police, said: "We have found that young people who skip school often commit low-level crimes and behave in an anti-social manner.
"It is important agencies work together in order to combat truancy and help those young people who are not attending school regularly or accessing an appropriate education.
"Parents or guardians of young people who regularly fail to attend school could face a penalty notice of up to 100 or prosecution which can vary from parenting orders, fines or even imprisonment."
Officials involved with the project, which also involves partners Leeds City Council and the David Young Community Academy in Seacroft, were out and about in Cross Gates shopping centre.
The idea is to patrol streets, shopping centres and places where students are known to hang out when they should be in school.
Coun Les Carter, the council's executive board member responsible for neighbourhoods and chairman of Safer Leeds, said: "By working together we can help raise school attendance levels and make communities safer and more pleasant places to live."
The new venture follows news on Tuesday that Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees are among 11 regional local authorities that are to share 56.5m to tackle youth crime.
The funding is a part of a Youth Crime Action Plan, which aims to tackle youth crime through a comprehensive plan of early intervention, non-negotiable support and tough enforcement.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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