POLICE are asking members of the public to help them cut down on truancy in the run up to Christmas.

The clampdown is part of an initiative by Lancashire County Council education authority to get children throughout the county back to school.

Teams of up to six welfare officers will team up with police to visit town centres across Lancashire and haul in youngsters who should be in school.

And now police officers have asked for residents who know of persistent offenders to report them to police.

Sergeant Claire Holbrook, scheme coordinator for Accrington police, said: "Although truancy is not a crime there is a proven link with those not attending school becoming involved in crime.

"Quite often we are locking up juvenile shoplifters who are truanting from school."

Figures released earlier this year revealed that 40 per cent of street crime and 20 per cent of criminal damage is carried out by 10 to 16-year-olds who should be at school.

Sgt Holbrook said there was also a risk of danger to the children.

She said: "Parents and teachers in this day and age need to be aware of the whereabouts of their children for obvious reasons. And obviously we have concerns in relation to addresses where access is allowed to truants during the day.

"With the children themselves they must understand that as they are truant from school then they may well be reported missing from home which will have the inevitable police intervention.

"And children who habitually miss school are obviously placing their parents in the inevitable position of eventually being prosecuted for their lack of attendance."

During a sweep on truancy in Accrington on May 3 2002 a total of 35 children were stopped.

Children caught playing truant without an adult will be taken back to school but parents found with truanting pupils risk prison, large fines and possible Social Services involvement.

Sgt Holbrook said: "We are now collating information and need extra help from members of the public

"We would ask members of the public to contact us regarding any children or youths who they are aware regularly do not attend school."

Anyone who has information on persistent truants should call 01254 51212 and quote log number EQ272/241002.

A publicity campaign called Truancy Watch will be launched on November 1 by County Council which will include billboard posters throughout Lancashire.