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-270

CADRP-270

 

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)

Children are not adults and cannot be considered in the same light.  Very young children especially need us to give them safeguards and direction in a more practical way because verbal warnings are sometimes insufficient, and for some parents this means being able to give reasonable chastisement in the form of a loving smack. It is completely misleading to compare this to child abuse and we need to recognise this.

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)

The law already protects children from violence and provides and adequate distinction between real child abuse and parental discipline in a loving context. A 2017 ComRes poll also found that 76% of welsh adults were against criminalising smacking and only 11% were in favour suggesting little appetite for the legislation this Bill is trying to achieve.

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)

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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)

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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)

The consequences of poor and inadequate discipline will have a detrimental impact on society as a whole and the banning of smacking will not only cause huge problems to parents but also to police and social workers who will be overwhelmed with trivial reports and ultimately lead to real cases of abuse being missed.

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)

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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)

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