CHILDREN as young as five are being left unsupervised for hours at Hornsby Aquatic Centre and police say it must stop.

Ku-ring-gai Area Command crime prevention officer Paul Cleary said police had been contacted a number of times by pool staff advising that young children had been “dropped off” by parents who had then left the centre completely.

“It is assumed the parents or carers go shopping,” he said, “hopefully not to the pub.”

Snr Constable Cleary said a few cases occurred after the centre opened nearly a year ago but recently the incidents had increased.

“It’s starting to become more frequent when it shouldn’t happen at all,” he said.

“It’s not a childcare centre, it’s a swimming pool.”

Centre signage states that children under the age of 13 must have adult supervision.

media_camera Signage at Hornsby Aquatic Centre states children under the age of 13 must have adult supervision.

Snr Constable Cleary said on one occasion pool staff had to bring a child aged about six to the police station because no-one had returned to collect the youngster before closing time.

It took nearly six hours before the parent showed up.

“On this occasion the response from the mother was, ‘What’s the problem?’ She was basically totally blase about the situation.

“If a child comes back to the police station it takes an officer off the road until the parents are found.”

Police are concerned young lives are being put at risk.

“They (the lifeguards) are not childcare workers. They are scanning the pool for the masses, not keeping an eye on individuals in particular,” he said.

“While they are scanning the pool, the police and pool staff would hate to think that at that moment a child slipped under the water and was not seen ... those critical seconds could mean the difference between life and death and ultimately it’s the parents’ responsibility to watch their child near any body of water and certainly in public places.”

A Hornsby Council spokesman confirmed there had been “a couple of incidents”.

“It hasn’t been a major problem,” he said.

“We would just like to remind parents and guardians that children under 13 need to be supervised at the pool by somebody over 16.

“If they are not our staff will remove the children from the water and try to contact the parents. If that is not possible the police will be contacted.”

If a child is brought to the police station the matter is reported to the Department of Community Services.