Police tackle out of control truants

POLICE have vowed to crack down on the hundreds of students roaming Ipswich when they are meant to be in school.

Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Andrews co-ordinated an operation this week that targeted truancy in Ipswich.

The operation involving 30 police found 56 truants in just two days. The youngest was nine. Three were discovered while shoplifting.

The outcome shocked Snr Sgt Andrews, who feared it was just the tip of the iceberg.

“Hundreds of kids every week are wagging school,” Snr Sgt Andrews said yesterday.

“Do parents know where their kids are when they leave to go to school? That's the question that has to be asked.

“Proceedings can be taken against parents.”

But the job of cutting truancy had to be shared with police, schools, business and the community, he said.

“We want to build partnerships with them and we'll continue tackling truancy,” Snr Sgt Andrews said.

“I spoke to a few high school principals about how much of a problem it was. They were only too happy for our assistance.

“It won't be a regular thing, it will be different days, different weeks, different times until we greatly reduce the problem.

“It's a proactive approach and I reckon we've just scratched the surface.

“It's difficult to determine how big the problem is because it hasn't been addressed this way before. I've worked in Ipswich for about 15 years and I've not heard of any similar operation here.

“I DON'T think all the kids are committing criminal offences or engaging in anti-social behaviour but a fair percentage is. Drinking wasn't a problem this time but it has been in the past.”

Police targeted typical hangouts such as convenience stores, skate parks and shopping centres from Rosewood to Springfield.

Shopping centres included St Ives at Goodna, Redbank Plaza, Booval Fair and the new haunt on the block Riverlink.

Riverlink centre manager Paul Kelsey said he was keen to have a good relationship with schools, police and Ipswich City Council over truancy.