An anti-truancy team is heading for Harold after seeing spectacular results in other parts of Havering.

The team, comprising police and education welfare officers, targeted Romford last week and rounded up more than 50 pupils in a day.

Now it is set to patrol random areas of Harold to ensure that young people are where they are supposed to be.

Children seen out with their parents will be key targets.

The team was created as part of Truancy Week last week. Havering Police say it was so successful they decided to make it a long-term initiative.

Head teacher of King's Wood School, Settle Road, Harold Hill, Chris Rudge said: "Anything that focuses on dealing with the problem of truancy is to be supported.

"We are quite lucky here that the problem only exists among a small minority.

"However, we have a strong system here of monitoring truants and when pupils know they cannot get away with missing school, they are less likely to try to miss lessons."

Peter Townrow, head of Redden Court School, Cotswold Road said: "It is disappointing to hear of pupils out with parents when they should be in school.

"We enjoy a good relationship with parents and they have been very supportive of our computerised registration system which has helped us tackle truancy tremendously.

"I fully support the crackdown project and anything that goes towards making sure pupils are at school receiving their education has to be good news."

Pc Craig Lloyd of Havering Police said: "One of the most interesting and worrying things we have discovered is the amount of young people out with their parents when they should be at school.

"This is one area we will be targeting much more in the future."

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