"If they don't go to school, they're out and about and bored and then they get into trouble. It's about preventing these kids from going down the wrong track."
Last month, Counties Manukau police Superintendent John Tims said car thefts were being carried out by kids as young as 11. Officers were also dealing with "younger and younger" petty crims.
A wave of youth crime in South Auckland included a teen who fought with a pool manager while allegedly trying to steal his car. Other teens were stopped while in stolen cars.
Rowbottom said if children picked up in the sting were in uniform they were dropped off at school. Others were taken home and parents told.
He said police worked with Government-contracted truancy services, social workers and schools to make sure children and families received appropriate support rather than being prosecuted.
Parents of 50 school pupils have faced court action over the past five years for failing to make sure their children turned up to class.
A further 12 parents have been prosecuted by the Education Ministry for not enrolling their children.
Latest figures show that only seven parents were taken to court under the Education Act for not making sure their children attended lessons last year. There have been no prosecutions this year.
An Education Ministry survey last June showed at least 23,850 pupils wag school on any day.
A further 6,115 pupils were considered "frequent" truants, being absent for three or more days in succession.
Education Ministry head of sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said that by law children had to be enrolled at school between the ages of 6 and 16.
Parents were responsible for making sure their children were at school every day unless the child was sick or unable to attend.
If a student failed to turn up to school, parents could be fined up to $30 for every day their child missed class.
Fines ranged between $300 and $3000, depending whether it was a repeat offence.
