MORE than 50 youngsters have been quizzed during a crackdown on unacceptably high levels of truancy in the New Forest.

The two-day campaign was conducted as part of a national drive.

Uniformed police officers teamed up with education welfare officers to patrol the streets of Lymington, New Milton, Totton and Hythe.

A total of 56 young people were stopped and questioned during last month's investigation.

Some were taken back to school and names of other children were taken and checked.

Education welfare manager Sian Harper said: "Unfortunately, the rate of truancy in the New Forest is unacceptably high.

"This is because of the behaviour of a minority of pupils in the district. It is, however, also disturbing that many of the unauthorised absences are condoned by parents."

Illness was the most common excuse given, with others including shopping for school uniform, medical appointments, headlice, study leave, restricted timetable, bullying and personal problems.

More boys were found on unauthorised absences than girls and most culprits were in the upper years of secondary school.

During 2001-2002, 660 New Forest youngsters were referred to education social workers. Of those cases, 533 concerned erratic school attendance. In 38 cases parents were prosecuted for their child's non-attendance and 10 parenting orders were issued.

Ms Harper added: "The courts issued more parenting orders in the New Forest than in any other district of Hampshire.

"The education welfare service works closely with parents, pupils and schools to try to resolve attendance difficulties. However, we will prosecute parents of children who persistently fail to attend school."

The Forest's top police chief, Supt Paul Colley, said: "There is an acknowledged link between truancy and crime. We are determined to reduce both - and feel we can do this by working in partnership with local education officers.

"There will be more truancy sweeps and anti-truancy initiatives during 2003."