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-182

CADRP-182

 

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)

Smacking does not of itself constitute child abuse.  Instead, it is a tool that can be used by loving parents as a means of dealing with a child’s wilfully disobedient or reckless behaviour quickly and without lingering and leading to unseen mental suffering.  This unseen suffering is more likely to be caused by harsh words or if a child is banished to an upstairs bedroom or similar.  The child may end up feeling isolated and unloved if they cannot see parental expressions and so pick up that the discipline was not done out of malice and so learn that their parent means the best for them and is doing it in a 'spirit of love’.

Smacking can  be a way of warning younger children of dangers, for example, running into the road or touching hot objects out of ignorance or curiosity – up until the time when they are old enough to understand and act on a spoken warning.  If this tool were no longer available to parents, this could actually put children’s safety at risk.

I was brought up during the time when smacking was accepted as normal and fair in order to teach children good behaviour.  I was smacked from time to time when I stepped too far out of line (which I now recognise) and I can honestly say that I have no bad feelings towards my parents as a result.

I have brought up three boys who have now grown up and in one case is married and has started a family of his own. We remain a close family and we have on occasion reflected on how I and my wife brought up our three boys and whether occasional smacking did them harm. The short answer was 'No'; they realised it was a necessary adjunct to parenting and they appreciated that such punishment has an immediate association with a misdemeanour and the episode was over and forgotten about in the shortest time.

 

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. I am not aware of any definitive evidence that smacking causes any harm to children. This is from published literature of which I have read quite extensively and which has been borne out  from  my own family experience growing up and when I in turn brought up my own children.

If Wales were to ban smacking as a parental resource, they would find themselves out on a limb compared with many major societies including France, Italy, USA, Canada and Australia, which all continue to support smacking as a necessary tool for bringing up well balanced and law-abiding citizens.

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)

Yes. Do we really want chidren to be set against their parents? Children can eaily be persuaded to talk about what is happening at home with a younger sibling. As an example, children in primary school are often asked to write about home life and if this includes a mention of smacking, the teacher could well be advised to contact the safeguarding officer and you can see that it is only a small step to a criminal record. Just think what the stigma od a criminal record would do to the parent child relationship - I would want to be as far as is possible from creating any such disharmony particularly since the reportee is likrly to be of an age where they cannot foresee these consequences.

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)

No - emphatically not.

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)

There are disconcerting results following the banning smacking in Sweden.  A smacking ban appears to have contributed to (a) increased child-on-child violence, (b) breakdown of discipline in schools, (c) rise in insecurity and anxiety disorders among teens leading to attempts at suicide.

The last mentioned should be of great concern to the Government since this is already on the rise in our society - I speak from experience of spending many hours running a Night-Shelter in one of the Cardiff Churches for the past four years and then meeting with those needing help outside the 'formal' Night-Shelter - the majority of the reasons for being on the streets are to do with dysfunctional family relationships. Smacking, if used appropriately, helps parents to set and enforce boundaries and reduces lingering disciplne affecting the mind and so sowing the seeds of lifelong anxieties.

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)

This will cause more stress and could well place more demand on our Health Services.

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)

Points all made above.