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-166	CADRP-166

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)

This will be unfairly criminalizing parents that out of a loving parent-child relationship want to discipline their child. I am told that even the Government has admitted that there is no evidence to justify this action. On top of this it will put a big unnecessary burden on social workers, child protection services and the police to investigate a lot of additional cases of children living in a truly loving, caring environment and thus making them more ineffective to catch real victims of abuse. A small physical smack, that's over and done with as a disciplinary measure is less harmful and cruel than the alternative emotional punishment, that last longer, often involving shaming (sitting on the naughty step for example) and emotional distancing from the parent.

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)

The law as it stands already protects children from abuse, all that's needed is for that law to be enforced.

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)

By implementing the bill you will turn a mild disciplinary smack into abuse, it will be 10 times harder to identify real child abuse. This endangers the at-risk children but also if parent are penalized for smacking and could potentially lose their job or even custody of their children it will endanger the well-being of children who are in already loving, caring families.

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)

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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