POLICE and social workers in Scarborough are mounting a campaign to clamp down on truancy from schools.

PC Jacqui Raynor the youth action officer for Scarborough police said: "We are teaming up to focus attention on the problem of truancy. A child's education is not only damaged, but an unsupervised child is at risk of becoming involved in criminal activities."

A spokesman for the North Yorkshire education authority said: "Truancy is a long standing problem at Scarborough especially in the summer months."

People under 16 who are seen in the streets during school hours are to be challenged under the new scheme.