More than 40 pupils have been caught in a truancy crackdown.
Essex County Council education welfare service officers and police yesterday targeted Basildon's Eastgate shopping centre and the town centre in their fourth sweep this year.
In just three hours, 41 children were stopped.
Three secondary pupils, who had registered at school in the morning before bunking off were caught playing snooker in the shopping centre and returned to school.
Most of the youngsters approached were between five and 11 and accompanied by their embarrassed parents or carers, who were given leaflets explaining the law and the importance of going to school.
Published Thursday July 15, 2004
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