A MOBILE police station is to become the latest weapon in the crackdown on truancy in North Yorkshire.

The county's police force is teaming up with education chiefs in a concerted effort to make parents aware of the potential legal consequences of not ensuring that their children attend school.

Following on from recent high-profile efforts to focus attention on the growing problem, police youth liaison officers and social workers are warning that truancy can seriously disrupt a child's academic progress.

As well as damaging their future career prospects, the experts warn that unsupervised children who deliberately avoid lessons are running the risk of falling into criminal activities.

As a result, North Yorkshire's mobile police station will be visiting the market towns of the Hambleton district, with officers giving out leaflets and advice to anyone who feels their child could be in trouble.

The roadshow will be in North-allerton tomorrow; Thirsk on Monday, June 24; Easingwold on Friday, June 28; Bedale on Tuesday, July 2, and Stokesley on Thursday, July 4. It will be in the market places of every town from 9am to 4pm on each day.

Efforts to nip truancy in the bud before it starts will be backed up with decisive action after the summer holidays, police also said.

Officers and social workers will be mounting 'truancy sweeps' throughout the Hambleton district under the Crime and Disorder Act.

It means that any youngsters who are spotted out and about, without a legitimate reason that has been cleared by the school, can be immediately taken off the streets and taken to an approved place of safety.

This can happen whether or not the pupils are accompanied by parents.

PC Jacki Burton, Hambleton's youth action officer, said: "It is hoped that by giving them prior warning and information from the mobile police station about their legal responsibilities, all parents will make sure their children regularly attend school."