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-214

CADRP-214

 

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)

Surely it is already an offence to physically harm a child.At present a loving parent can give a reasonable gentle smack in order to guide a child in the right direction. Children can be contouring and stubborn and often it just takes a parent to give a gentle reminder and correction.What is a parent for ,but to prepare a child for life and help them understand that the world doesn't revolve around them and that it is not good for them to always have their own way.

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)

I clearly understand that we want to safe guard our children as a whole, but not by taking away parental rights, or criminalising those who choose to give a correcting smack in a loving way .

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)

Smacking a child in a loving family is not child abuse,and if made a criminal offence then social workers and police will spend much of their time on cases which will lead to families being broken up and the real child abusers will slip through the net .

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)

Of course, innocent people will be criminised,and families traumatised.

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)

I know this is a difficult one and like every decent citizen, I don't want any child to suffer,but removing  a child from its parents because of a smack is an extremely serious matter and we need to be careful that the government doesn't create a nanny state ,where parents are not allowed to make decisions for their children.