Legal Advice - Miscellaneous

BABYSITTERS AND ‘HOME ALONE’ CHILDREN

Is there a minimum age for a babysitter to look after a child and at what age can children be legally left home alone?
There is no specific minimum age of a babysitter (although 14 is often quoted). Parents or carers must adopt a common sense policy, with the babysitter being able to look after both him/herself and the child.

Similarly, there are no legal guidelines regarding the age at which a child can be left at home alone. The rule of thumb is that the child should be able to look after him/herself. Again, the common sense rule applies.

Having said that, under the Children and Young Person Act 1933 it is an offence for anyone over the age of 16, who has responsibility for a child under that age to willfully assault, ill-treat, neglect, abandon or expose the child. This may include bullying, frightening or causing suffering or injury to the child's health.

DANGEROUS DOGS

My next door neighbours dog is very vicious and children in the area are scared of it. What can we do?
Under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act an offence could be committed if the dog is dangerously out of control in a public place. Even if it is not in a public place, but in a place where the dog is permitted to be and it bites someone or puts a person in fear, the owner could still be prosecuted. In this instance you should telephone the police.

EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN

What are the rules relating to the employment of children?
The rules for child (under 16 years of age) employment are (subject to local authority bye-laws).

No child shall be employed under 13 years of age
The child should not work before the close of school hours
Not before 7 o'clock in the morning (any day)
Not after 7 o'clock in the evening (any day)
Not for more than 2 hours on any school day
Not for more than 2 hours on any Sunday
They should not be required to lift, carry or move anything so heavy it is likely to cause injury.

NOISY NEIGHBOURS

What can the police do about my noisy neighbours?
This is not a police matter. Complaints of domestic noise, persistent alarms, dogs barking etc, are dealt with by the local environmental health officer, unless there are other circumstances which warrant police attendance.

STRAY DOGS

I have found a lost or stray dog in the street. What should I do?
The local authority is responsible for the collection and keeping of stray dogs. The police ONLY have a responsibility to accept and deal with stray or lost dogs which are brought to a police station until collected by the local authority. Lost and found dog registers are kept at local police stations.