SCHOOLCHILDREN who play truant could be taken off the streets and put in a new town centre base, it was revealed today.

Education chiefs and police officers have been given new powers by the government to detain children found wandering the streets when they should be at school.

Police have often taken youngsters back to their schools when they have found them on the streets.

But now officers have new powers to act on the problem, and Blackburn with Darwen Council is considering backing them up by providing a town centre base from which to operate.

In a report to councillors, town hall education officer Lawrence Warburton says: "Before the new power is invoked, the education authority will have to designate premises to which young people of compulsory school age can be taken and then formally notify the chief constable in writing.

"These may be local schools but the education authority may also designate other premises which it will be responsible for staffing, such as a Pupil Referral Unit or Education Other Than At School Unit close to the shopping precinct which could support a "truancy watch" scheme.

"Any operation would utilise at least three uniformed police officers and three education welfare officers."

Mark Pattison, the director of education at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The schools in the area have a good attendance record compared to other similarly sized authorities.

"We welcome the partnership approach with the police in dealing with this important issue and we will continue to work with schools to keep truancy levels at a minimum."

The council's education and training committee will discuss the report on Wednesday, August 18.

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