CHILDREN are being picked up off the streets and handed back to schools as Education Minister Ivan Lewis today launched the latest round of truancy sweeps.

For the next three weeks, teams of police and educational welfare officers will be patrolling Worcestershire's truancy hotspots.

Anyone out of school without explanation will be immediately returned to the classroom and they and their parents will be given strict warnings on their school attendance.

During sweeps in 2002, 187 youngsters were stopped in Worcestershire and 35 - less than a fifth - were playing truant.

However this year, 105 children were checked with 38 - more than a third - absent without explanation.

"We still see a hardcore of parents who condone their child's truancy," said Mr Lewis.

Worcestershire County Council can already seek to prosecute parents of truants, and next year's proposed Anti-Social Behaviour Bill will give additional measures in this area.

"Where parents are unable to fulfil their responsibilities, parenting contracts would provide them with the professional support they need to improve their child's attendance," said Mr Lewis.

"Where parents are simply unwilling to fulfil their responsibilities, however, it must be right that society demands legal sanctions and penalty notices of up to £100 would provide due accountability."

The truancy sweep, which will last until Friday, December 5, is the fourth to hit Worcestershire since the Government's £470m Behaviour and Attendance strategy was launched.