Playground cop

Wednesday, February 3, 1999 - 11:00

By Danny Fairfax

SYDNEY — In a return to policies from the 1950s, the NSW government has proposed a new crackdown on truancy. It says truancy is "chronic", but in fact fewer than 0.5% of NSW students are regular truants.

The government is proposing that high school students be allowed to leave school grounds during school hours only if they are given a pass. The pass would be issued only if the principal believes that the student has a legitimate reason for leaving the school.

Any high school student found by police outside of class without a pass could be forcibly escorted back to school. Police will concentrate on "hot spots", such as shopping centres, arcades and railway stations.

The crackdown will begin at the start of second term, if the Labor government is re-elected in the March 27 state election.

Resistance is organising a demonstration on February 13 at 2pm outside Town Hall to protest against the increasing police powers to stop and search young people. Come along and/or phone 9690 1977 for more information.

From GLW issue 347