Thursday, March 05, 2015

Adult carers left five children and a kangaroo joey locked in hot car while they drank in pub

Police have broken into a car to rescue five children and a kangaroo joey while their adult carers were allegedly drinking inside a pub in central Australia. The children were freed unharmed, but by the time police opened the car the joey had died.

Alice Springs Watch Commander Chris Wilson said passersby alerted officers to the children trapped inside the car about 1:30pm on Tuesday in the hotel's car park. The temperature in Alice Springs was hovering around 40 degrees Celsius at the time.



"It was alleged the children were playing roughly with the joey," Commander Wilson said. "Upon attendance, police located five children aged between two and 13 years who had been left in the car for over two hours. The children were checked by St John Ambulance staff while the two adults looking after the kids were located inside the licensed premises."

Commander Wilson said the children were not injured "but had they been left much longer, this event may have had a far worse ending". Police said the Department of Children and Families was conducting an investigation into the children's welfare. Animal Welfare staff were also called. Commander Wilson said the incident was a timely reminder that leaving children and animals in hot cars was not safe.

4 comments:

Barbwire said...

So what happened to the adults? Jail or a talking-to?

arbroath said...

According to this report ...

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/five-kids-left-in-car-sauna-while-parents-visit-lasseters-hotel-casino-in-alice-springs/story-fnk0b1zt-1227248747060

Whilst the the matter will be investigated by the Department of Children and Families, they escaped prosecution.

Kidsafe NT executive director Victoria Pollifrone said because the NT had no specific laws on children being left unattended in cars, prosecution was only possible if children suffered harm. She also said the lack of a law meant many people were worried forcing entry to a car to rescue a child could see them being prosecuted.

“If this legislation was introduced, it would be obvious it’s illegal (to leave children in a car) and passers-by would be more likely to intervene,” she said, adding that any penalties associated with such laws needed to properly reflect the gravity of the offence.”

Williamrocket said...

An eye for an eye !!!!
Revenge for the baby kangaroo.

Barbwire said...

I can't imagine why it's not against the law to leave your children unattended in a hot car. They could have died as well.