MOTHERS in south Wales are much more likely to be taken to court than fathers for their child’s truancy, writes Michael Jones.

More than 800 parents were prosecuted for failing to ensure their child’s regular attendance at school from 2017-18, figures obtained by the Argus reveal.

A Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Justice revealed 604 females were taken to court compared to 91 males, with 126 defendants of unspecified gender.

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Sam Smethers, chief executive of gender equality charity Fawcett Society, said she was concerned at the figures.

“As a society we are all too quick to judge mothers,” she added.

Gwent parents receive a £60 fine for their child’s truancy, rising to £120 if unpaid after four weeks, and will end up in court if they refuse to pay.

Local authorities have to decide whether to prosecute parents for a child’s truancy.

But a Welsh Government report found that fines had no effect on overall absence rate.

Families are being financially crippled by fines, said academic Rona Epstein, co-author of a recent study on truancy prosecutions, said: “The prosecution is hugely expensive.

“The family goes from having a reasonable income to being on the poverty line.

“Instead of getting support from the government, they are punished.”

Money spent on prosecution should be spent elsewhere, argues Mrs Epstein.

“I would argue the money would be much better spent putting more assistance within the school, so that the school can do a better job of supporting those with special needs,” she said.

“There are parents whose children have very serious difficulties and there is not enough support.

“Yet these parents are being prosecuted, even though they want nothing more than for their children to go to school.”

Monmouthshire County Council was the only local authority in Gwent to responded to request for comment from the Argus.

A spokesman said: “The number of prosecutions made by Monmouthshire is so low we would be reluctant to give details on a gender breakdown as such disclosure may lead to identifying the young people concerned.”