Should smacking children be banned in England?

Welsh government, Wales

Westminster, England

YES

Wales has now joined Scotland and a whole host of other nations in banning physical punishment of children, which includes smacking, hitting and slapping.

From 21 March, it is illegal to physically punish a child.

Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Social Services, called it a “historic moment for children and their rights in Wales”, saying “the law is now clear - easier for children, parents, professionals and the public to understand. Physical punishment is illegal in Wales and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”

The First Minister for Wales, Mark Drakeford said: “No more grey areas. No more ‘defence of reasonable punishment.’ That is all in the past. There is no place for physical punishment in a modern Wales.”

Scotland was the first country in the UK to ban smacking in November 2020. The new law applies to everybody in Wales, including visitors.

Physical punishment is already illegal in the whole of the UK in nurseries, schools, children’s homes and local authority foster care homes.

A study carried out by UCL last year found smacking children when they are young can have a long-lasting impact on them.

Researchers found children who are smacked at the age of three are more likely to suffer from poor mental health and have behavioural problems through to age 14.

NO

Westminster says it has no plans to ban smacking in England, claiming it would wrongly criminalise parents.

In England, you have the legal right to smack your child if it is 'reasonable punishment'. If you leave a mark, such as a scratch or a bruise, you can be prosecuted for assault.

The government claims the law already punishes violent parents.

Education Minister Michelle Donelan MP said: “The government has no plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban parents from using physical punishment to chastise their child.

“The government does not wish to interfere in how loving families bring up their children. Legislation already exists to ban the beating of children by their parents.”

The Christian Institute’s deputy director Ciarán Kelly said the statement was a “welcome indication” of the Government’s stance.

He added: “The Government has rightly recognised that families should be free from unwarranted state interference.

“Westminster must not make the mistake – as Wales and Scotland have – of criminalising loving parents for gently disciplining their children.”

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