Police warning over parental negligence this summer

Officers see spike in missing children, while hospitals report choking cases up

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Police have seen a rise in the number of children getting lost, blaming negligent parents that do not take proper care of their children during the summer holidays.

Sharjah Police said officers have anecdotally seen more young people going missing for short periods of time.

Many parents will have their children at home for more than two months, either looking after them themselves or leaving them in the care of maids or nannies.

“Parents should not be leaving children with nothing to do during the summer break and must engage them in activities,” Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Bin Nassar, deputy director of CID.

Zulekha Hospital said it has also seen a rise in the number of children being brought to hospital choking on toys, small objects or sticky food such as peanut butter.

Doctors urged parents to "supervise children's play" and monitor their children properly.