A: This is a difficult question to answer, as it depends on the circumstances, the child's maturity and the length of time for which a child is left alone. The law does not provide a clear answer but states that it is a criminal offence to leave a child at home alone if doing so would put the child at risk. It is also possible that leaving a child home alone for long periods could constitute neglect and potentially lead to care proceedings taking place.
The Children's Legal Centre advises that children under the age of 13 should not, generally, be left at home alone, as they would not be able to cope if they had to deal with an emergency.
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