Mother left toddler locked in car

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tyne/6519643.stm

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A South Tyneside woman who left her young child locked in a car while she went to get her hair done has been given a police caution.

The 18-month-old child was spotted by a passer-by in Boldon Colliery, who waited beside the car for 20 minutes before raising the alarm.

Just as police were about to break in and rescue the crying child, the mother came out of the salon.

The 21-year-old, who has not been identified, was then cautioned.

'Extremely dangerous'

Northumbria Police had traced the address of the owner through the car's registration and officers knocked on doors in the street in an attempt to find the parents.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "The young child had been left in the car unsupervised and a 21-year-old woman was given a caution for abandoning a child.

"There is no specific legislation relating to children in cars, although people can be prosecuted for neglect, depending on the circumstances.

"Obviously, common sense dictates it is extremely dangerous to leave a small child alone in a car at all."