Consultation on the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill

Tystiolaeth i’r Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg ar gyfer craffu Cyfnod 1 Bil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru)

Evidence submitted to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill

CADRP-69

CADRP-69

 

About you

Individual

1      The Bill’s general principles

1.1     Do you support the principles of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill?

— No

1.2     Please outline your reasons for your answer to question 1.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

The relationship between a child and parent is special and it is usually the parent who is best judge of how to discipline the child. On occasions the mild smack is the only alternative to show a child that what they are doing or attempting to do could be harmful to them or someone else and in noway c as n it be described as abuse.

It would appear that the Welsh government is out of step with the determination to criminalise lo criminalise loving parents who only want what is best for their child and is unreasonable interference in family life, especially as the European Court of Human Rights has, in principle, upheld the legal defence of reasonable chastisement.

The occasional light smack in context of a loving parent/child relationship in no way harms the child and only emphasises to they child that their course of action is not a good one. The Government admitted this in a consultation last year and I believe that three quarters of the public questioned in a recent poll oppose a smacking ban.

If this.bsn is implemented much needed resources will be diverted from real cases of abuse and police and social services will be inundated with unnecessary work and real abusers will continue with their abuse for longer before being brought to task.

1.3     Do you think there is a need for legislation to deliver what this Bill is trying to achieve?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

No.

There are already laws in place that protects children from abuse and any punishment that is excessive is already against the law.

Therfore the current laws just nerd to be enforced not changed

2      The Bill’s implementation

2.1     Do you have any comments about any potential barriers to  implementing the Bill? If no, go to question 3.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-

2.2     Do you think the Bill takes account of these potential barriers?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-

3      Unintended consequences

3.1     Do you think there are there any unintended consequences arising from the Bill? If no, go to question 4.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

Yes.

By removing the 'defence of reasonable chastisement'  a parent that disciplines a child with a mild smack could be charged with assault. Banning smacking will inevitably catch ordinary loving parents and turn them into criminals.

Enforcement of the law will disrupt family life and if a parent is penalised for smacking they could lose their job or even lose custody of the child or children. The NHS has already stated that any reports made to them about smacking will be treated in the same way as abuse. If reasonable chastisement is done away with then staff and patients could be labelled as abusers.

Turning smacking into abuse will bring utter confusion into the law against child abuse and this will be dangerous for real at risk cjildren

4      Financial implications

4.1     Do you have any comments on the financial implications of the Bill (as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum)? If no, go to question 5.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-

5      Other considerations

5.1     Do you have any other points you wish to raise about this Bill?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

I understand that the bill is being pushed through because it.was in the labour party manifesto at the last Welsh Government elections. I disagree with the need for this and if asked, most of the Welsh populace would agree with me and that they did not realise when the voted Labour that this was a policy.