At what age would you leave kids alone while you holiday

Comms69

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Ensure the safety of the children and deal with the parents if they believe they have committed a crime.

Who else would you call for children left alone for a week, the RSPCA?

Some interesting links:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11498123/Arrests-for-leaving-kids-home-alone-made-every-day.html

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-08-07/mother-who-left-children-home-alone-for-three-weeks-while-she-went-on-holiday-escapes-prosecution/

Neither of those links is actually anything valid.

1: which seems to suggest that 14 is the minimum age, but then explains its up to the parents to decide
2: which suggests that no criminal activity took place when leaving an under 10 year old

Police aren’t social workers. So calling them seems excessive

Red-Squirrel_2

Comms69 wrote: »

Neither of those links is actually anything valid.

1: which seems to suggest that 14 is the minimum age, but then explains its up to the parents to decide
2: which suggests that no criminal activity took place when leaving an under 10 year old

Police aren’t social workers. So calling them seems excessive

Valid? I said they were interesting, which they are. The law is not clear cut so it depends on the individual circumstances and interpretation.

The police aren’t social workers, but they have powers that social workers don’t and can act much more quickly if there is a child in danger.

I’d call them, I wouldn’t want to have to live with it if a child came to harm and i’d Known they were alone and done nothing.

eamon

In all likely hood the kids are probably running their own lives and all that mum does is provide the financial means. I'd bet that even if the mum does leave them for a week then the fridge/freezer is full of food, the youngest one is in charge of the housekeeping money, the middle one spends 7 days & nights mainlining on arcade games and the oldest is out with his mates doing what a 16 year old does.

As for getting the police & social services involved thats an OTT reaction.

Comms69

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Valid? I said they were interesting, which they are. The law is not clear cut so it depends on the individual circumstances and interpretation.

The police aren’t social workers, but they have powers that social workers don’t and can act much more quickly if there is a child in danger.

I’d call them, I wouldn’t want to have to live with it if a child came to harm and i’d Known they were alone and done nothing.

Ok neither were conclusive. I’ll rephrase.

Actually they don’t. Police have no special powers to detain anyone who hasn’t committed an offence. They can assist young people; to bring them to a place of safety. But beyond that they can do nothing more. That person is free to leave at any point after that.

I just don’t see the benefit. I’m not saying do nothing, but as your articles pointed out; in many cases there was no crime to answer.

Red-Squirrel_2

Comms69 wrote: »

Ok neither were conclusive. I’ll rephrase.

Actually they don’t. Police have no special powers to detain anyone who hasn’t committed an offence. They can assist young people; to bring them to a place of safety. But beyond that they can do nothing more. That person is free to leave at any point after that.

I just don’t see the benefit. I’m not saying do nothing, but as your articles pointed out; in many cases there was no crime to answer.

Police have powers of entry if they are concerned for somebody’s welfare.

simplez

my sons 19 and I won't let him stay home alone...... he really is forgetful and would either leave the house unlocked or burn every meal and probably the kitchen lol

Pollycat

Given what the OP said, I wouldn't be getting in touch with Social Services or the Police without speaking to the Mother again to determine exactly what the arrangements are during her absence

The neighbour just shouted across the road.
It doesn't soumd like she expects the OP to do much and - as I've said up-thread, she may have perfectly adequate child care arrangements and was just letting the OP know she was away in a jokey mannet

Involving officials based simply on that may create serious issues for the Mum when she doesn't deserve it

OP - before you run to Social Services or the Police, just have a quick word to reassure yourself that the situation really is as bad as some posters have assumed.

Comms69

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Police have powers of entry if they are concerned for somebody’s welfare.

And?

Just to be clear police have powers of entry to ‘save life and limb’ or where a crime may be occurring. I suspect they’d be relying on the latter.

In any case that power doesn’t allow any other action...

Spendless

simplez wrote: »

my sons 19 and I won't let him stay home alone...... he really is forgetful and would either leave the house unlocked or burn every meal and probably the kitchen lol

Jesus. Seriously??! He's an adult. How on earth do you manage a work life or a social one if you don't let a 19yo stay home alone?

Kim_kim

Spendless wrote: »

Jesus. Seriously??! He's an adult. How on earth do you manage a work life or a social one if you don't let a 19yo stay home alone?

There’s a difference between jetting off on holiday and going to work or out for the night.