Consultation on the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill
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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 |
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CADRP-17 |
CADRP-17 |
About you
Individual
— No
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
I have brought up two children ad now am massively involved in raising my 8 grandchildren and parents know that a smack that is not severe is helpful in normal non-abusive discipline. Labour AMs are pushing this Bill against the opposition of a majority. Labour AMs are massively out of touch with the electorate on this issue. It is another piece of legislation that will be impossible for our overstretched police service to handle.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
No further legislation is needed on this issue. The laws that we already have are appropriate and totally adequate if they are properly fully applied in enforcement terms. Children’s rights are already fully protected.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
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Yes. The present laws are complex and confusing enough with adding this since it will weaken the legal system as a whole and make many children less likely to transition successfully into adulthood. My grandchildren along with many other children will suffer from the lack of reasonable discipline and AMs are effectively accusing excellent parents and grandparents of being criminals and assaulting their children. The consequences for general behaviour in schools, homes and public places will inevitably deteriorate more and more in the future as a result of Welsh government policy in removing the defence of ‘reasonable chastisement'. All children who, for their own good, experience a light smack will no longer do so and they will undoubtedly suffer from being being treated too leniently or indulgently. Why should wider society be forced to pick up the pieces of this in terms of the uncivilised behaviour that will occur as these over indulged children grow up. Furthermore, are you going to take children away from their parents as a result of a light smacking? There will be a popular push-back if you do. Will parents be fined or imprisoned for giving their children a light smack? Giving good parents criminal records for excellent parenting and reasonable discipline will mean that their employment will be affected as DBS checks will pick up these wonderful people as criminals. How unjust this is to label good people as violent abusers? The sponsors of this Bill are acting in good will but they are lacking in wisdom. Thankfully the majority of your electorate have more wisdom that AMs do and have already expressed their opposition. Why are you defying your electorate. Do you think you know better? Julie Morgan has refused to talk to me on the door about this subject when she visited the neighbourhood. She cannot face up to reasonable discussion and in my view is hiding behind her position. I have also had no response to a letter I wrote to her. It all looks very cowardly and frankly ignorant. It is very sad that Labour politicians are so intolerant of the views of good people that disagree with this Bill and especially in the way you have chosen to ignore the majority opinion.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
Generally speaking we in Wales are taxed enough without adding further burdens to us.
(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)
I have personal experience of Julie Morgan and have no confidence in her as the Assembly Member in charge of this Bill. It concerns how she treated a young girl in a public meeting at Llanishen High School where pupils were invited to ask questions of her as a Labour politician. Mrs Morgan responded to one perfectly good question, asked with all politeness, in the most inappropriate, verbally abusive, bitter and insulting answer. Her attitude deeply shocked staff and pupils alike. Teaching staff had to counsel and support the girl afterwards because she was visibly trembling after the verbal tirade from Mrs Morgan. How can Mrs Morgan profess to be protecting children when she intellectually and verbally abused the young woman much more than a light smack ever would. I am sad to say it, but well meaning as she may want to be perceived, it is a matter of hypocrisy on her part and also on the part of many other politicians who do not practice what they preach. It is an unwelcome Bill.