Children aged two and four who disappeared after being left home alone when their mother needed hospital treatment are found safe and well with a family friend

Police launched hunt for Tiffarah Paul-Wright, two, and Aiale Paul-Wright, four
'Disappeared' from home after police were told they were alone in property
The children were taken to an east London police station at midday today

Published: 07:14 GMT, 19 December 2017 | Updated: 13:11 GMT, 19 December 2017

e-mail

214

View
comments

A two-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy have been found safe and well after they went missing from their home in north London.

Tiffarah Paul-Wright, age two, and Aiale Paul-Wright, four, went missing from their home in Islington, shortly after police were told the pair were alone in the property.

But the Met Police confirmed today the pair had been left in the care of a family friend after their mother was taken to hospital late on Monday evening.

They were taken to an east London police station this morning and are currently being cared for by officers.

Tiffarah Paul-Wright, (left) age two, and Aiale Paul-Wright, (right) four, have now been found safe and well after they went missing from their home in Islington, north London

Concerns had been raised after Tiffarah and Aiale were last seen at around midnight on Monday at an address in the Islington area, the Metropolitan Police said.

The force said today: 'At approximately 21.45pm on Monday, 18 December, the children's mother was taken to hospital for medical treatment.

'Police became aware that she had two young children and immediately made enquiries to locate them at her home address. Officers visited the address but there was no trace of Tiffarah Paul-Wright and Aiale.

'Officers believed that the children were in the care of an adult, who was known to the children, and attempts were made to trace them.

'Shortly after 12pm on Tuesday, 19 December, the children were taken to an east London police station and are currently being cared for by officers.'

Police said enquiries were ongoing and no arrests have been made.

LEAVING CHILDREN HOME ALONE AND BRITISH LAW

There’s no set age for leaving children home alone. The law simply says that you shouldn’t leave a child alone if they’ll be at risk.

However, under the Children and Young Persons (England and Wales) Act 1933, the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 and the Children and Young Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1968, parents and carers can be prosecuted for neglect.

This means that they can be fined or sent to prison if they are judged to have placed a child at risk of harm by leaving them at home alone, regardless of where in the UK the child lives.

The NSPCC says: 'While there might not be a specific legal age to leave children alone, it’s safe to say babies, toddlers and young children should never be left alone, even if it’s just while you pop down the road.

'Even if they’re sleeping peacefully when you leave they could well wake up and get very upset when you’re not there to look after them. They would not be able to protect themselves in an emergency and may even try to leave the property to find you.'