TRUANTS beware - that's the message from police and education welfare officers who are targeting skiving schoolchildren in Blackburn and Darwen this week.

In a week-long operation, teams of police and education welfare officers will be approaching children in the street and returning them to school. They will also be speaking to parents accompanied by schoolchildren to find out why they are absent from school.

The clampdown follows similar schemes in Blackburn with Darwen which ran in July and November and December last year.

Police said truancy was a significant problem in the area which affected society as a whole. Research showed that crime levels fell significantly after the last two operations.

Officers have recently been given new powers under the Crime and Disorder Act to return children to school. Inspector Judith Finney, of Blackburn Police, said: "Tackling truancy is an important issue for all the agencies involved. Operations of this kind take a considerable amount of planning by all those involved. However, the tremendous success of the previous operations shows that we can make a difference.

"This should send a clear message to children and parents that truancy is not acceptable behaviour. We also ask parents to ensure they know where their children are and that they are accountable for their actions."

The principle education welfare officer at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Lawrence Warburton, added: "The education welfare team in partnership with the police now have the power to target truants.

"We will continue together to ensure these operations are successful."

In the July crackdown 29 children were returned to school and 106 were spoken to with parents. In November and December 28 were returned and 106 spoken to.