Rottnest Police have warned parents the popular holiday island is not a crèche for teenagers to be left unsupervised after they evicted six youths on the weekend.
Six boys, aged between 15 and 16 years old, were evicted from Rottnest Island on Sunday after it was discovered they planned to stay at its camping grounds for six days without a parent or adult.
Rottnest Island police senior constable Paul Lloyd said is "wasn't uncommon" for children to be left to their own devices on the island.
He said yesterday's group were evicted by Rottnest Island Authority rangers because they breached the island's terms and conditions.
"What's happened is the parent's come over, he's booked them all into the camp ground, they've all set up the tents and everything else and he's left," Sen. Const Lloyd said.
"The parent must stay here if they've got children... the [accommodation] terms and conditions clearly state they must remain on the island for the duration of their rental."
Perth Parents need to understand Rottnest is not a creche
— Rottnest Police (@RottnestPol) December 18, 2016
Sen. Const Lloyd said if police found unsupervised children, they had a duty of care to look after them if their parents were not there.
"Let's say we came across them on the island in the middle of the night and their parents are not here, then all of a sudden we've got a duty of care to look after them, we can't just leave them," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Rottnest Island Authority warned parents they were responsible for any costs associated with evicting an unsupervised child.
"Under aged children being left unsupervised on the island is happening more commonly, particularly at this time of the year," she said.
"Parents need to be aware that their children will be evicted at the first available opportunity, and they will be responsible for any related costs."