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-392

CADRP-392

 

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)

It is not the responsibility of the state to interfere in the bring up of children. This is the responsibility of parents in the setting of the family. Of course where there is genuine child abuse there does need for the protection of the child  and this is already well provided for with present legislation. Discipline including smacking is not to be understood as child abuse but is the responsibility of parents to train and warn children of dangers and give direction as to correct standards when verbal instruction is not, by a child understood.

The majority of adults today were smacked when they were children with no adverse effects,in fact where there is no loving discipline in the family the outcome is the reverse and children will grow up rebellious and into adults without the training that loving discipline provides.

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. It is NOT for the State to legislate in an area (the family) where parental responsibility is the correct sphere for the nurture and training of children.

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)

There are very grave consequences arising from this bill.

This bill would criminalise loving parents seeking to bring their children up in a wise and loving way.

This bill would deprive children of the necessary discipline including smacking that only parents in the home setting can provide in order that their children can grow and develop into healthy and well trained adults.

This bill will put an impossible load on policing and putting pressure on the already limited police resources to investigate in an area that is not their responsibility and as a result there would be less police resources to investigate genuine cases of child abuse which existing legislation provides to control genuine abuse of children.

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)

It is a statistical fact that over 75% of Welsh adults are against the proposals of this bill and common sense dictates that loving controlled discipline (including the smacking of children by parents) is GOOD for the necessary training of the up-coming generation of children. It is a completely wrong concept to identify smacking with child abuse. There may well be individual cases where parents abuse their parental responsibility (and in such reported cases the laws already in existence need to be applied)  but it is wrong to legislate against this responsibility and right of parents. Such legislation is another example of Britain becoming a 'Nanny State!'