IT'S not just gangs of teenagers who are being targeted by truancy officers - it also parents who let their children skip school without good cause.

The crackdown comes after it was revealed last week that Swindon is winning the fight against truancy. Government figures show one in eight Swindon pupils skipped school in the last academic year but nationwide the figure is 17 per cent.

Patrols, made up of education welfare officers from Swindon Council and the police, are out on Swindon streets to spot errant pupils.

The teams will be targeting shopping centres, leisure facilities and fast-food outlets in the week-long operation, which is taking place across the country.

Officers can stop children between the ages of five and 16 during school hours, even if they are with their parents.

Their details are noted and then their reason for their absence is checked with the school.

On their first day out, the team mainly stopped children who were with their parents, many of whom had a legitimate excuse for being out of school, such as on teacher training days. If the child is considered to be absent without good cause then his or her attendance is monitored.

The truancy sweep in Swindon has been organised by Geoff Wood, principal education officer, and Jade Bennett, youth co-ordinator at Wiltshire constabulary.

Mr Wood said: "We are trying to get the message across to parents as well.

"They will find it more difficult to get a child to attend regularly if they get into a habit of missing school when they are young.

"If a child misses one day of school a week, then they miss a total of two years in the whole of their education.

"In Swindon, we have high rates of attendance and it is continually improving."

The Department for Education and Skills released figures for the two most recent week-long sweeps, which show the town is winning its fight against truancy.

Last December, 128 children were stopped during school hours, of which 38 were truants, and in May 53 suspected truants were spotted, of whom 28 were actually skipping school. Miss Bennett said that the police are happy to be involved with the initiative as truancy can lead to more anti-social behaviour and more serious problems.

Michael and Sharon White were stopped in the Designer Outlet Centre because they were seen with their two children, Eleanor, 9, and Henry, 6.

The family were visiting from Bath and the children had the day off because of a teacher-training day. The couple didn't mind being stopped and questioned.

Mr Child, 37, a computer programmer, said: "I think it is a good idea. I imagine some people might thinks it infringes on their civil liberties but a child should be in school so it is all right to ask why if they are not."

But another parent thought the initiative was a waste of time.

Timothy Garland, 43, of Calne, took his ten-year-old son Jack shopping for Christmas presents as his school was also on a teacher-training day.

Mr Garland said: "There are not many kids about anyway. They should be doing their job and catching criminals."

If a child is continually truanting, the parent could face a fine of to £2,500 or three months in prison."

bvadde@newswilts.co.uk