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| At what age can children be left alone? | At what age can children be left alone? |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The law does not specify an age at which children can be left unattended. | The law does not specify an age at which children can be left unattended. |
| Laws in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all say children must not be neglected or abandoned "in a manner likely to cause [them] unnecessary suffering or injury to health". | Laws in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all say children must not be neglected or abandoned "in a manner likely to cause [them] unnecessary suffering or injury to health". |
| Figures obtained by BBC Breakfast suggest more than 500 people were arrested in England and Wales in 2014-15 for leaving children unattended. | Figures obtained by BBC Breakfast suggest more than 500 people were arrested in England and Wales in 2014-15 for leaving children unattended. |
| The majority of arrests related to children aged 10 or younger, but the ages of children involved ranged from six weeks to 15 years. | The majority of arrests related to children aged 10 or younger, but the ages of children involved ranged from six weeks to 15 years. |
| So how should parents interpret the law to work out what is legal and what might land them with a fine or a prison sentence? | So how should parents interpret the law to work out what is legal and what might land them with a fine or a prison sentence? |
| The government refers parents to NSPCC guidance, which says deciding when to leave children home alone is a "tricky decision" with no "hard and fast rules" because every child is different. | The government refers parents to NSPCC guidance, which says deciding when to leave children home alone is a "tricky decision" with no "hard and fast rules" because every child is different. |
| It interprets the law as saying parents "shouldn't leave a child alone if they'll be at risk", and advises parents to use their judgement. | It interprets the law as saying parents "shouldn't leave a child alone if they'll be at risk", and advises parents to use their judgement. |
| "It's safe to say babies, toddlers and young children should never be left alone, even if it's just while you pop down the road," the guidance says. | "It's safe to say babies, toddlers and young children should never be left alone, even if it's just while you pop down the road," the guidance says. |
| It also suggests children under 12 are "rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left at home alone for a long period of time", while under 16s should not be left alone overnight. | It also suggests children under 12 are "rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and should not be left at home alone for a long period of time", while under 16s should not be left alone overnight. |
| A police officer told the BBC the law in this area was "woolly" and, like parents, officers had to use their judgement. | A police officer told the BBC the law in this area was "woolly" and, like parents, officers had to use their judgement. |
| "The cop on the scene will chat with the child and see what they're like, how long they've been left and how much longer they're being left," he said. | "The cop on the scene will chat with the child and see what they're like, how long they've been left and how much longer they're being left," he said. |
| He said a "worldly wise" 13-year-old may be fine to look after themselves after school until their parents get home, while there are 15-year-olds who "couldn't reasonably be left for more than a few minutes". | He said a "worldly wise" 13-year-old may be fine to look after themselves after school until their parents get home, while there are 15-year-olds who "couldn't reasonably be left for more than a few minutes". |
| 'Barely out of sight' | 'Barely out of sight' |
| Tim Haines was prosecuted for leaving his two-year-old daughter alone in a car for five minutes while he went into a chemist to buy some children's paracetamol. | Tim Haines was prosecuted for leaving his two-year-old daughter alone in a car for five minutes while he went into a chemist to buy some children's paracetamol. |
| He said his daughter was "barely out of sight" but police were waiting at his car - and two weeks later officers arrived at his home to arrest him. | He said his daughter was "barely out of sight" but police were waiting at his car - and two weeks later officers arrived at his home to arrest him. |
| "I was taken through the magistrates' court where initially I was convicted," he said. | "I was taken through the magistrates' court where initially I was convicted," he said. |
| "My solicitor said don't appeal, I got a barrister's opinion which said don't appeal, but I was so angry that I appealed and when I finally got it in front of the judge he said 'five minutes? That's supposed to be a crime?'" | "My solicitor said don't appeal, I got a barrister's opinion which said don't appeal, but I was so angry that I appealed and when I finally got it in front of the judge he said 'five minutes? That's supposed to be a crime?'" |
| Mr Haines, who won the appeal, says the law allows parental responsibility and "they need to be able to exercise that responsibility". | Mr Haines, who won the appeal, says the law allows parental responsibility and "they need to be able to exercise that responsibility". |
| Former Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, of campaign group Justice for Families, said: "The law is up to the individual judgement of police officers or social workers and that can cause lots of problems for parents." | Former Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, of campaign group Justice for Families, said: "The law is up to the individual judgement of police officers or social workers and that can cause lots of problems for parents." |
| He said parents needed "firm advice" so they could know they were "on the right side of the law". | He said parents needed "firm advice" so they could know they were "on the right side of the law". |
| The Department for Education said the law was "clear that parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health". | The Department for Education said the law was "clear that parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health". |
| "If any child was left alone to the extent that he or she might be neglected or harmed, then the council can and will intervene," it added. | "If any child was left alone to the extent that he or she might be neglected or harmed, then the council can and will intervene," it added. |
| Extreme examples of children being left alone include a group of six, aged from three to 14, whose mother left them for a six-week trip to Australia. She received a suspended prison sentence. | Extreme examples of children being left alone include a group of six, aged from three to 14, whose mother left them for a six-week trip to Australia. She received a suspended prison sentence. |
| In another case, a mother was jailed after leaving her 15-month-old daughter at home every day for a week while she went out drinking. | In another case, a mother was jailed after leaving her 15-month-old daughter at home every day for a week while she went out drinking. |