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-193	CADRP-193

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)

Smacking is not child abuse. There is a clear difference between child abuse and loving parental discipline. Criminalising smacking would result in lots of parents becoming criminals overnight while doing little to stop bad the bad parents abusing children. I fear criminalising it will actually jeopardise children’s safety. Currently, the police appear overwhelmed to deal with all the areas that they should and hence following up all reported activity relating to this will either overwhelm them leaving other offences to be dropped or be too low on their priority to deal with it.

In 2017 here in Wales the ComRes poll said that 76% of Welsh adults were against criminalising smacking, while only 11% were in favor. Where is the democracy?

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

Give Police and social services more time to do what they are tasked with already to help them identify the real parents and others that abuse children.

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)

Yes when the police appear overwhelmed to deal with all the areas that they should,  following up all reported activity relating to this will either overwhelm them leaving other offences to be dropped or be too low on their priority to deal with it.

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

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)

when the police appear overwhelmed to deal with all the areas that they should,  following up all reported activity relating to this will either overwhelm them leaving other offences to be dropped or be too low on their priority to deal with it.

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)

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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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