Concerns over children left home alone over Summer holidays

The NSPCC is reminding parents and carers in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire not to leave young children home alone as the summer holidays start.

Last August the charity’s Helpline made referrals involving 849 children to police and social services due to concerns about them being left unsupervised by their parent or carer. A third of these were aged five and under.

Throughout 2017/18 there were 7,277 children referred to authorities due to concerns about them being left to fend for themselves, with the problem being most acute in August during the long school holidays.

The NSPCC has warned that although a child may seem responsible enough to be left alone without supervision, parents and carers should think carefully whether they would be able to cope with unexpected situations such as an emergency, a stranger calling at the house, being hungry or if the parent is away for longer than anticipated.

Parents and carers can be prosecuted for neglect if it is judged that they placed a child at risk by leaving them at home alone.

NSPCC Head of Safeguarding in Communities, Chris Cloke, said:

“It can be difficult for parents and carers to decide whether their child is ready to be left on their own and we know that the summer holidays can be a tricky time as people face increasing childcare pressures.

“However, it is still very concerning that we are consistently seeing a spike in August of referrals to social services and the police due to worries about children being left unsupervised. No child should be left on their own if there is any risk they will come to harm.