A Freedom of Information request by the BBC has found that 510 people were arrested in 2015 for leaving a child home alone.
According to reports, the youngest child was six-weeks-old while the eldest deemed at risk was 15-years-old. While there are no laws relating to what age kids can be left alone, according to the BBC, police can take action if they deem the child to be at risk.
Commenting on the fact that the Government allow parents to make the decision about whether their child is mature enough to be left alone, Former MP John Hemming is now calling for clearer guidelines.
"The Government claim that parents are allowed to decide whether their child is mature enough to be left alone. That, however, is not true," he said. "What happens is that either the police or local authority social workers decide whether in their opinion the parents have neglected their child."
"We need to consider what is optimal, what is ill-advised and what should be criminal or require action from the local authority."
