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-319 |
CADRP-319 |
About you
Individual
— No
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
Whilst not condoning child abuse in any form, I believe that smacking in order to disciple a child, for his/her own good, by loving parents, is not abuse
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
I am not questioning the motives behind the proposal, but I do not believe here is need for legislation. There is already legislation to protect children from abuse. |Loving parents will use smacking as a last resort.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
The proposed legislation would impose huge pressures on the already stretched police service and social workers. Its implementation would mean that less time, recourses and energy will be spent on cases of real abuse.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
No thought has been given to the far reaching consequences.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
Good parents would be criminalised, which is not supported by the majority of people in Wales. The lack of parental discipline is not good for children, nor, for that matter, society at large. It would seem that much anti-social behaviour, is due to a lack of discipline.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
It goes without saying that new legislation will incur a financial cost. Whilst it is impossible to know how much this has been considered by AMs, I believe they would in fact be surprised by the financial results of the implementation of the bill.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
The point is made that smacking encourages those who have been smacked to be violent, considering violence as the norm. It is argued that other countries who forbid smacking have less violent behaviour, but this is not so. Sweden is quoted as an example, but since 1979 cases of violence by children on other children has increased significantly. The proposed bill is another of example of state interference with the right of parents to decide on what is right for the child.
I WOULD URGE AMs TO THINK AGAIN ABOUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF PASSING THIS BILL