§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were detected playing truant from school by police patrols organised by the divisional juvenile liaison department in Luton in 1979.
§ Mr. BrittanI understand from the chief constable of Bedfordshire that in 1979 police patrols checked a total of 174 children who were found absent from school in Luton. These checks revealed 36 truants and 59 unjustified absences—that is, children absent from school with the consent of their parents but without other justification. Police truancy patrols are organised by the juvenile liaison department in conjunction with the local education welfare service.