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-154

CADRP-154

 

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)

As a parent of 3 children, a retired foster carer and a teacher, I think there is already a huge responsibility on  parents  and carers to discipline in appropriate ways. This is already open to scrutiny at schools and surgeries where teachers and other professionals  are trained to spot bruises, marks and reports of abuse. With this new bill, there will undoubtedly be an increased number of cases of children being removed from their parents while investigations are under way after an alleged incident of smacking. There may be no mark /proof because it will be the child's word against the adult's and many cases will remain inconclusive but could potentially cause months of disruption and even separation in a family's life. It is a very scary prospect. in my opinion. Parents who have a proclivity to exerting unnecessary power and control over children will find other ways to attempt to control behaviour such as isolation and deprivation which arguably are much worse. Abolishing the right to reasonable punishment will just create more problems than it solves.

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)

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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)

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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)

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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 feel that there will be undue pressure placed on social services who are already working at full capacity. I also think many parents will become scared to tell their children off in public and furthermore, innocent knocks or rough and tumble play will equally become under even more close scrutiny. Parents will become scared to touch their children for fear of being reported.

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)

Police services and social services will need further finance injections

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)

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