PARENTS have been ''lectured'' by police for letting their children walk to the shops or catch a bus on their own, with senior police saying incidents will be reported to the Department of Community Services if a child is considered at risk.

Officers told a Hornsby mother it was ''inappropriate'' for her 10-year-old daughter to catch a bus unaccompanied, and warned a Manly father whose seven-year-old son walked alone to a local shop that while they would not alert DOCS, they would file a report.

Police have lectured parents for letting their children walk alone to school.

The Manly local area command crime manager, Luke Arthurs, said the fundamental responsibility of police was to ensure children's safety.

''It all depends on where they are walking, the time of the day, how far they are going and the environment they are in,'' he said.