Westpoint shopping centre, in Blacktown, Sydney, has banned children wearing school uniforms from its premises between 9.30am and 2.30pm.

The shopping centre is the first in Sydney to impose such a ban and it has received the full support of the NSW Premier, Morris Iemma.

 
However, the Council of Civil Liberties has labelled the banned "discriminatory" and says it will do nothing to solve the problem of truancy.

 
The policy could in fact drive children from safe environments, such as shopping centres, to secluded places where drugs and alcohol could be consumed, the council said.

Richard Evans, executive director of The Australian Retailers Association, has favoured the move, saying the policy should be adopted by other retail centres.

 
Westpoint management says it will not force anyone to leave the premises and chief superintendent Mark Jenkins from Blacktown police says students with a good reason for being in the centre during school hours will be allowed to stay.

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