Is it actually illegal to leave a small child unattended in a locked car while you pop in a shop.?

Question

I appreciate it is a very unwise thing to do and I would never do it myself for many reasons, however I am falling out with a friend who will leave a sleeping child in the car and either go to shops or in a house for sometimes up to half an hour! My view is that it is totally irresponsible, bad parenting and unacceptable. The risks are too great from abduction to fire to collission. What are your views and what is the legal situation. I would not leave a dog in a car - let alone a child. Thanks

Answer 1

"Legally, it is an offence under Section One of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to neglect or abandon a child under the age of 16 for whom a parent or carer has responsibility." This is obviously open to interpretation but can and has included leaving a child in a car and parents/carers have been prosecuted.

Answer 2

I dont think it is illegal as such, but it is definately irresponsible and unacceptable!  Many things could happen, the car could be stolen with the child in it (and this has actually happened in the past), the car could get hit by another vehicle and the child be hurt, if it is hot the child could get over heated, etc. etc.   It is wrong and anyone who would do that is in my opinion a bad parent!

Blimey, judging by all the thumbs down it would appear that some people condone this, worrying really!

Answer 3

I hope its illegal. If it isn't, it should be. Children should protected by the law against acts of blatant irresponsibility of parents like that.

Answer 4

I don't see anything wrong with leaving a sleeping child in the car while you pop in the shop although I would not leave them for more than 5 or 10 minutes. I think half an hour is a bit long. The risks you state are all pretty unlikely (abduction in a locked car?) Bad things can happen outside of the car as well.

I'm not sure whether it is illegal or not. If it is then I guess the police would turn a blind eye to people who leave their child for just 5 or 10 minutes. I personally would also only leave them if I was literally popping into the shop right next to where the car was parked and could stick my head out the door to check on them.

Does your friend leave them in the car for 30 mins even on a hot day? As this is something you should not even do to a dog!

Anyway, just to clarify, I think 30 minutes is an excessive time to leave them, but just popping in a shop while they are sleeping in the car is fine x

Answer 5

Stupid friend!

Answer 6

Yes! It is Illegal and if caught, she could be arrested for child endangerment. The temperature in a locked can on a sunny day can reach 180 degrees in a matter of minutes. If something were to happen, to the child the charges could be even worse! In the event of death, she could be charged with manslaughter!

Answer 7

It's probably like in a quite few cases, it's not illegal unless something happens.

As someone said, if it's illegal to leave a small child unattended, then that goes for leaving them in a car too.

Why don't you  print out all these answers and pass them on to your irresponsible friend.

Answer 8

Yes it is illegal to due this, there is no telling what can and will happen plus you could and you should loose your child to child protective services for endangering the child's welfare....

Answer 9

god no i wouldn't

itc could die from heat exhaustion if it was sunny and hot

abducted

car could be robbed with baby in it,and that has happened

and another car could crash into it

Answer 10

It is most likely illegal...sometimes the laws vary from place to place, but it's dangerous enough that it's probably illegal everywhere.  

I had a neighbor who had an autistic child.  She would leave him sleeping in the car, sometimes all night long (said he didn't know where he was anyhow and it was too hard to get him up the stairs).  I called and reported her to child protective services.  I also called the police each time she left him sleeping in the car.  After several times, she quit doing it.  She was angry with me, but I'd rather have an angry neighbor than see a child die of neglect out in the parking lot.

The temperature in a car can be much higher than the outside temp...sometimes 30 or 40 degrees higher.  Basically, it can get hot enough to kill a child who's left in a closed car.

I remember once when my mom left us kids in the car and told us not to open the doors or windows to anyone.  Someone called the police while she was in the grocery store, and they came out and broke the window to get us out.  She never left us outside again...car windows aren't cheap.

Answer 11

You can be charged for leaving a dog in a car never mind a child!

If it isn't illegal it should be!

I had to 'break-in' to a car last year! Mum went into the shop and misplaced her keys,the 20 month old child was in the car,no ventilation and in 70+ degrees. He was freaking out!!!!

Unbeleivable!!!

Thankfully he was O.K. and I hope his mum learned a valuable lesson!

Answer 12

Thats not illegal, just irresponsible

the kind that'll make your childs face goes on tv.

so dont do it

Answer 13

Yes,  child neglect and endangerment

Answer 14

I'm not sure it is illegal but it is very irresponsible and dangerous.

Answer 15

Child endangerment/neglect. Very illegal. And that is just irresponsible, even if it weren't illegal. *edit* Just for some examples to prove it is indeed ILLEGAL here are some links to stories involving people leaving their kids unattended in a vehicle(not only is it illegal but its a FELONY charge)

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/11/...

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/Feb/1...

http://digg.com/people/Man_Charged_for_L...