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-177

CADRP-177

 

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)

Children need discipline in their lives, they have to learn right from wrong, and it's a parents duty to instill this in their children, not the government.

 If every parent or guardian were to be arrested for giving a light smack on the legs or bottom, the courts would be in chaos.  Police officers and social workers, who are already overworked,  would be completely overwhelmed with the volume of work, and truly vulnerable children would be missed and left in possible danger. Would anyone want a child's death on their conscience? This is the position this bill could be putting social workers in.

Parents who abuse their children would still continue to do so, behind closed doors, regardless of the law. These are the children the Welsh Government should be concentrating on, but if this bill is passed, It will be the parents who love and care for their children who will be punished, when they only want the best for their children.

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)

-

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)

-

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)

-

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 do, vulnerable children could, be missed, due to the sheer volume of cases that social workers could be dealing with. Families could be separated, with devastating results for children. How is this bill protecting children? It will, in fact, have the opposite effect, by destroying 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)

Crime is on the rise, young teenagers left to roam the streets with no hope for their future, all due to the cut backs with the police and other services. This bill would drain even more resources from an ever dwindling pot.

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)

The majority of adults in Wales are opposed to a ban on smacking, regardless of what 'figures' the Welsh Government come up with. Most of today's adults were smacked during their childhood, and have grown up to become happy, normal people. What will this generation of children be like, if there is no punishment or consequences to their actions?. I dread to think