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-423 |
CADRP-423 |
About you
Individual
— Yes
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
The use of physical assault (physical punishment) is unacceptable in any civilized and just society .
This is all the more so when there is a clear imbalance of power and physical strength as there is when the use of physical punishment, or threats of physical punishment, is deployedcagainst children.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
The supporting legislation should simply remove the defense of “reasonable physical punishment” from the statutes and treat all such acts as common assault or child abuse.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
The “It never did me any harm” and “ it will be the end of civilization as we know it” camps will mobilize a very vociferous campaign against the Bill.
They will be supported by the majority of popular main stream media and reactionary elements within the “establishment”.
BUT
Remember we must always stand up for what is right even, if at times we stand alone.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
Difficult to make any realistic judgement.
Given the current regressive trends in UK society, it will not be an easily won victory.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
Pressure on the police.
Pressure on the courts.
Pressure on the schools.
Pressure on the social and child protection services.
There will be a great need for qualified, easily accessed sources of support for parents “under pressure” and having difficulties.
That, in turn, places pressure on the underfunded local authority services.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
Parents “in difficulty” will require support and advice.
Social services will require adequately funded family support intervention services.
Schools will require access to specialist behavioral and mental health workers.
Police will require trained “intervention” teams.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
It is not going to be easy, nor rapidly introduced into widespread practice.
We have a “culture” of threatening and beating children into compliance and many believe it is the most effective method of achieving discipline.
In my view, and experience (quite relevant and substantial) they are wrong and have no valid supporting research evidence to support their views but that will not stop them.