A crackdown on truancy in part of Derbyshire has found almost 30 children skipping school in just two weeks. Derbyshire Police and county council social workers teamed up to patrol the streets of Heanor, Ilkeston, Belper, and Alfreton earlier this month.
Those found playing truant during the two-week scheme were aged between six and 16 - three were with their parents.
The county council said it was disappointed the number is as high as that of a county-wide check last year.
During the latest crackdown, police and social workers stopped 77 youngsters not in school.
Of these, 29 were found to be playing truant.
Derbyshire County Council will work with the families involved to try to establish whether there has been a longer-term pattern of skipping school, using prosecution as a last resort.
But the authority said that, overall, truancy rates have almost halved since 2001.
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