Police find boy, 6, home alone in Wakefield

POLICE found a six-year-old boy home alone at a house in Wakefield.

Officers made the chance discovery while carrying out door–to–door enquiries on an unrelated matter in the Eastmoor area of the city on Tuesday.

Sgt Mark Beet of Wakefield police, said: “The property was locked but he opened one of the windows and we managed to climb into the house. Social Services attended within an hour and the child was passed through the window to them.

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“He was a bit shocked and scared to see us, but he seemed happy enough and we put some cartoons on for him.”

Jackie Wilson, service director for Wakefield Council’s safeguarding and family support, said the matter had been investigated and arrangements are now in place for the child’s safety. She added: “It is timely to reiterate our advice to parents about the need for young children to be supervised within the home. The law does not set a minimum age at which children can be left alone. However, it is an offence to leave a child alone when doing so puts him or her at risk. Children under the age of 12 should not be left alone.”