A lock knife was seized from a teenager during a truancy sweep in East Sussex.
Pupils were also caught with cigarettes during yesterday's blitz in Hastings, Bexhill and Rye.
Police and education welfare officers conducted the sweep in known hang-outs.
In Hastings, 24 children were found out of school. Six were returned. In Bexhill, 14 were found out of lessons and four were returned, while in Rye five youngsters were caught.
Sergeant Phil Mears, of the Senlac Community Safety unit, said: "During the course of the operation a lock knife and cigarettes were recovered.
"This confirms the view that children who truant are more likely to engage in unsafe activities and break the law.
"There will be further truancy sweeps during the rest of the school year."
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