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-34

CADRP-34

 

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)

In my opinion, the current law to protect children from harm is adequate and has not been used sufficiently. Therefore this bill is unnecessary. It will flood public services and will stop real offenders from being identified and prosecuted.

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. I believe the rights of children are already adequately provided for but that laws protecting them from harm are under used

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)

I believe that people who are harming children will not be easily identified because the bill is broad and unnecessary. Children will have less protection from harm as the result of this bill

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. I believe that there are more ways of harming children then physically. For example, isolation, and verbal abuse. This bill will encourage parents who are already aggressive in their parenting to find allternatives to smacking which can in many ways be even more harmful to children and children which are even more difficult to prosecute

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. Please see answer 2.2

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. I believe that this is will put unnecessary strain on our already over stretched public services

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 an unprecedented intrusion into family life by the State, using criminal law to impose an ideology of children’s rights and change the culture on parenting. It is:

- Unnecessary (existing legislation is adequate to deal with all excessive or abusive physical discipline)

- Ungrounded (unsupported by the evidence base, which merely shows that any more of discipline used harshly or excessively is harmful to children)

- Costly (financially and in terms of public resources, as well as the unintended consequences of potentially devastating safe, loving family situations)