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-10

CADRP-10

 

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)

Absolutely not, for the following reasons:

1 - According to the legislation proposed, all boundaries could be construed as abuse. Grounding or the "time out step" could be seen as emotional abuse and neglect, just as this legislation seeks to get rid of the loving boundary of reasonable chastisement on the grounds that it is physical abuse.

2 - Polling consistently shows that people support the right for parents to choose how to discipline their children.

3 - I've got two brothers who are police officers - do they really need to waste more police time following up perfectly good parenting?

4 - I love my kids. I also physically discipline my kids. These things are not opposites - they are logical consequences. Real love gives real boundaries - to keep them safe. I smack my two-year-old son when he tries to touch the oven, or throws stones at his brother - because I love him enough to put those boundaries in place.

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. The law already allows the prosecution of abusive parents.

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)

Yes - I am a loving parent of three beautiful children - and I would be labelled as a child abuser.

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)

No.

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)

Yes - I am a loving parent of three beautiful children - and I would be labelled as a child abuser.

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)

Yes. The government's own research has already put the prospective cost of implementing such a bill in the millions of pounds. I work full time to support my family and I am struggling with the current tax burden: how is that fair?

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)

Yes - please could my AM come and parent my 3 pre-school children for a week.