A TRUANT was discovered letting off a firearm when he should have been at school.

The 13-year-old is just one of a number of schoolchildren who have been targeted by West Mercia police and Worcestershire County Council in a bid to crack down on crime and truancy.

Police believe the links between the two are strong, and are trying to break the cycle by putting children back in the classroom.

"The teenager with the firearm was a one-off," said Vicki Davies, spokeswoman for Worcester police.

"I don't have details on the firearm, but it may have been a ball-bearing gun.

"He wasn't in school at the time and was letting the gun off somewhere. Since then, he's been back at school."

Police officers who have been patrolling the Worcester area have arrested, on average, two children committing crimes during school hours every weekday.

The reasons for arrest range from shoplifting to criminal damage, and children as young as 10 are playing truant and committing crimes.

"One of the aims of the sweep is to get children back into school before they get a criminal record rather than GCSEs," said PC Tina Dodd, beat manager for St John's and St Peter's in Worcester.

West Mercia Constabulary and Worcestershire County Council have been focusing on Worcester city to find children who do not have a valid reason for being absent from school.

The operation involves Education Welfare Officers and the county's Youth Offending Team, as well as police officers who meet truant children, return them to school and inform parents and guardians.

"Playing truant isn't only dangerous, but seriously damaging to long-term prospects," said Tim Scott, the county's principal education welfare officer.