Op Absence: The results
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Last week (Tuesday 7 May) we reported on how our specialist task force were patrolling the streets of Boston on the lookout for children not at school or in an education setting, as part of Operation Absence. The ultimate aim of the initiative is to keep young people safe and drive home one of our key crime prevention strategies, which is to tackle truancy.
After engaging with over 40 teens who were not in school or an education setting at the time of our patrols, we can confirm the following results were obtained:
| Op Absence May 2024 | |
| Home visits | 14 |
| Returned to school | 8 |
| Holiday | 2 |
| Sickness | 2 |
| Other | 2 |
| Encounters / Stops | 29 |
| Not enrolled in education | 4 |
| Medical appointment | 2 |
| Home educated | 2 |
| Part-time timetable | 12 |
| Sickness | 6 |
| Other | 3 |
| Total | 43 |
| Lateness - students found on the way to school | 8 |
Our partners at Lincolnshire County Council have been informed of these results and they will be implementing their standard safeguarding processes around these results. The represented schools’ Education Welfare Officers will also follow up on their respective students. The four local schools that joined the patrols on this occasion were: Thomas Middlecot Academy, Giles Academy, Haven High Academy and Boston High School. However, schools not represented on the day have been informed if their student/s were engaged with. Plans are in place to broaden the scope of the coverage in the coming weeks and months.
Insp Ian Cotton of South Holland Neighbourhoods Policing said: “Tackling truancy is a key prevention strategy when addressing anti-social behaviour and low achievement within our community. We are pleased with the results shown above and hope that young people from the Boston area appreciate that they have the support of the Police and other partner agencies to help them avoid the detrimental impact that truancy and low attendance can have on their lives.”