Newspaper delivery children

[Theotherside]

I dont agree! Norris is the voice of sanity in a world gone mad.

Norris, you are getting yourself into deep water here, quit whilst you can, you wont win this one '>

[Norris]

There you go ex delivery boy, you have just picked up on an important point (probably without knowing it!'>. Do the parents have a responsibility as well as the employers? If i was a parent i would ensure that my child had lights on their bike and that they weren't leaving the house at silly times in the morning! If that caused a problem with the newsagent THEN perhaps talking to them first would be appropriate?

As for exploitation, is it really? in the overall scheme of things? i mean it's not exactly a sweat shop...

Norris,

Would you allow your child to be out on a cold dark morning, on a cycle without lights, would you allow your child to be employed well before the legally permitted hours-having regard to the fact that they have a full days school ahead of them.You you allow your child to be exploited?

I am the first to agree that this sort of employment for children, properly supervised and in accordance with the laws provided to protect children, is good for them, but not when such employment is in contravention of the law and motivated by the profits of the employers.

[MCC Executive Committee]

(Not wishing to be regarded as a "####")
Can we just remind contributers who may be concerned about the safety of deliverers, especially minors, that SMBC Enviro Health are one of the regulators of this service, there are obligations on Newsagents and anyone else providing a delivery service
If anyone has concerns or evidence of abuse contact them on 01614744310 (see our posting on April 29th 2003- subject first raised around this time) or look at the The National Federation of Retail Newsagents web site.

 Â 

[Norris]

For Gods sake what a bunch of over concerned ####s you are. Kids have been delivering papers for years in order top up there pocket money or whatever, it's not like it's a new invention!

I delivered papers myself round Marple from the ages 13 to 16 and not only does it top up your pocket money it gives you idea of the value of money and of working for a living.

I think that delivering papers is a good way to introduce kids to the working world and to help them to become more responsible citizens.

Some of the hypocrasy on this site is quite staggering when on one hand you are all complaining about vandalism etc (and rightly so) but on the other hand you are trying to over regulate a possible means of producing more responsible human beings.

I say leave the paper boys and girls alone, so long as they are happy doing what they are doing then let them do it, if not then perhaps try to encourage them to fight their own corner instaed of molly-coddling them!!

The Health and Safety atwork etc act 1974 places strict responsibilities on businesses such as these.

ie - Conducting Risk Assessments
 Â   - Staff Training - Manual Handling, Violence at work
 Â   - Devising policies, procedures and practices for the     safety of those they employ.

I run a small printing business in Stockport and have just been helped out of a big safety predicament by a gentleman called John Houghton (recently in the local papers)

I know he lives in Marple and can be contacted through this site, I suggest you ask him, he really knows his stuff.

March 2004

And still the children are at risk.

Each weekday morning between 6.40 and 7.0am the children will still be seen carrying there load of newspapers. I regularly see a young lad pushing a bycycle and carrying his load past the "navi" and up Lockside the little fella looks worn out

Is it still 7am- and not before-for them to start work?

[alan@marple]

Because Harry:

1: I dont know which newsagents are employing these children and I certainly would not put fear their way by challenging them on a dark cold morning or evening.

2: I am not qualified to educate anybody on the law:

3: These matters are best dealt with by the appropriate authorities and agencies concerned with the welfare of children.

4: This item was aired in April and the MCC took up the matter
and I entertain no doubt that certain steps may well be considered and a course of action considered in accordance with legislation.

Thank you for your contribution constuctive remarks are most welcome

Alan,

Why don't you just go into the newsagent and ask him/her if they know the law. If they don't, you could educate them.

[alastair]

quick pointer are the community police support officers around that early in the morning

[alan@marple]

Further to the articles in April of this year concerning children delivering newspapers.

Once again the dark mornings are with us and children will be seen out and about with LOADED newspaper bags and on cycles from 6.40am Onwards Monday to Friday.

One only has to be at the traffic lights at Texaco and The Hollins at this time each morning and the children can be seen.

Dont just take my word for it.

Are the newsagents in contavention of employers liability insurance.


Perhaps this is something that our community police support officers could monitor.

Further to our earlier posting, we have made some detailed enquiries about newspaper deliverers and have contacted SMBC Environmental Health, who have been very helpful, it is an item which they are interested in and is their remit.
They confirm that children (under 18's) should not deliver before 7.0am, this is an education welfare requirement (contact SMBC Education Division).
Newsagents are supposed to carry out a risk assessment study concerning "the job" which covers many things including dangers on the route, weight of newspapers being carried, method of delivery (Health and Safety) etc.
A useful web site is :

 Â                      www.nfrn.org.uk
 Â     (The National Federation of Retail Newsagents)

which gives guidelines to newspaper retailers and includes a pamphlet which may be downloaded as well as a form for risk assessment, go into their "Legal & Political" section.
Environmental Health are sending us literature about this service and how it is controlled and the health and safety aspects.
Environmental Health can be contacted on: 0161 474 4310

Hopefully all our newsagents are abiding by the guidelines and legislation.

Thanks.

A fair question.
Are deliverers subject to any regulations, if so, what are they?
Are deliverers insured at all?
Who is responsible for their safety?

Must we assume that newspaper retailers are abiding by any "good practice" and requirements?

The Community Council we will make some enquiries, other readers might want to do the same.

There is no question of preventing young people, or older people for that matter, delivering newspapers or other items, the money they receive and the service they give is of value, but there has to be safeguards, protection and good practice, as in any other service to the public.
Thanks,

Community Council Executive Committee.

Now that the lighter mornings and evening are with us, I hope that the newspaper delivery children in the area will be a little safer, especial from vehicular traffic. I have been concerned for some time now, at the number of children on cycles delivering papers and whos employers have not ensured that the cycles have carried lighting both front and rear. The children  will be seen out and about Marple from around 6.30am each week day morning. I was under the impression that these children were not alowed out with their papers until 7am