Ministry proposes later curfew despite police and health concerns

The Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs has published draft legislation proposing that 10 to 12 year olds may stay outdoors without adult supervision until 9pm during the winter, despite objections from the Capital Region Police and the Office of the Director of Health, mbl.is reports.

The current rules allow children in this age group to remain outdoors until 8pm. The proposed change would extend the curfew by one hour.

The same change was included in a bill on new child protection legislation considered by Alþingi during its last session, but the bill was not passed.

Concerns about sleep and enforcement

During the earlier consideration, the Office of the Director of Health raised concerns about the potential effect of a later curfew on children’s sleep.

The Capital Region Police said it would be undesirable to make the rules more complicated, noting that it had taken many years to establish them. The police described the rules as an important preventive tool that had also been used to discourage unwanted groups of children from gathering late in the evening.

The ministry, however, says the change would not reduce children’s recommended sleeping time. It also points to children’s views and calls for greater flexibility.

During the bill’s earlier consideration, a majority of Alþingi’s Welfare Committee said further consultation with children and other affected parties was needed before any changes were made.

The proposal has therefore been removed from the broader review of child protection legislation and submitted separately.

Shorter summer period

The draft includes other changes. Children aged nine and under would be allowed to stay outdoors until 8pm, while the rules for those aged 13 to 16 would remain unchanged, with a 10pm curfew.

It also proposes that the summer period for the rules run from June 1 to September 1, instead of from May 1. The aim is to align the rules more closely with the school year.

Children’s curfew rules have largely remained unchanged since 1992. The deadline for comments on the draft legislation is August 28.