Friday 15 February 2008

Minimum age at which children can be left alone in the UK

Did you know that there is no minimum age at which it is legal to leave children on their own in the UK?

If you think there should be a minimum age, and the author of this petition suggests the age of 12, please consider signing. Many thanks.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/no-to-neglect/

From the petition page:

"
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Bring in a new law to make it a criminal offence to leave children aged under 12 on their own"

"
More and more children aged under 12 are being left on their own at home by their parents without proper supervision. The law on this point is totally unclear and appears to be covered only by the 1933 Children and Young Persons Act. The topic of young children being left on their own has been in the news in the past year and it is submitted that now is a good time to review existing laws. The dangers to young children of being left on their own are numerous and potentially very serious. The law should deter people with children under 12 from even thinking about leaving them on their own."

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