Meanwhile, newsagents are reminded that they must register the employment of children with the city council.
With the long winter nights now a fixture and weather conditions deteriorating, parents of young people who deliver newspapers door to door should make sure their children are safe when on their round by following these top tips:
- make sure that your child can be easily seen, especially at night, on dark days and in bad weather - bright, fluorescent clothes show up best by day, especially in dull or misty weather, while by night, reflective material is best and shows up in car headlights
- don't let your child listen to music through earphones while on delivery rounds as this will impair their ability to be aware of what is going on around them, such as traffic movements
- insist that your child wears a helmet while using a bike to make deliveries
- it's an offence to cycle at night without a white front light, a red back light and a red reflector at the back, so make sure that your child's bike is properly equipped and working
- bicycles used on paper rounds aren't covered by the newsagent's insurance, so ensure they are covered by the householder's home and contents policy.
It is also important that newsagents employing children to make home deliveries do so strictly in accordance with the law, which seeks to protect the health and physical well-being of children while at work.
Anyone wishing to employ a child should notify Wolverhampton City Council via child.employment@wolverhampton.gov.uk or by calling 01902 555233 within 7 days of the commencement of the employment.
Making the appeal, Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "For many young people, their first job is to deliver newspapers - and we want to ensure they stay safe so that they remember the experience for all the right reasons."
- released: Friday 10 January, 2014