AIBU to refuse my 17-year-old caring for a 14-year-old all week

[Jollytealswan]

My 17yo has a 14yo niece. He has been asked for look after her for a week whilst her family goes on holiday. She is no relation to me.
My 17yo is a good trustworthy guy, but i have yet to leave him alone in the house overnight. I think he would be absolutely fine, but the situation has never arisen.
I am however dead against him being responsible for a 14yo for a whole week. Maybe overnight with me on call. But not a whole week.
My mind is racing through worst case scenarios...missing 14yos, medical emergencies. household disasters, arguments etc.
I get that I would end up responsible for the 14yo as well.
I acknowledge that the law is unclear on this and relies on risk assessment and common sense. I wouldn't leave my 17yo alone for a week.
What does everyone else think?

I am trying to not step in as its a sensitive situation. As i said before, its not my side of the family, and he's desperate to maintain a good relationship with them. He says he's going to turn them down, just thinking how to put it. I feel very sorry for him.

Along with most of the others, this is not only a "No, but hell No" from me.

It sounds like a Mumsnet disaster story waiting to be written.

I would think him saying he just doesn't feel comfortable with the scenario would be enough for them. It's sad to me that he feels this pressure.

If he uses you saying you think it is not a good situation, they will take it out on him? I would feel the same if it was a 17-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy. There is just not enough age gap there to ensure the 17-year-old can "adult" a 14-year-old.

I feel for your son. I wish you could just say "No" and have everyone respect that, without pushback/negative feedback.

@middleagedmermaid Speaking as someone who remembers being 14, I would say I would rather be in charge of a whole house full of 4 year olds after a Haribo buffet than one 14 year old girl.

ITA and I have to say, your comparison made me laugh way too hard today!

It depends so much on the 14 year old, if it were mine at 14 and 17 it would have been fine because dd2 was super sensible, I’m aware not all are