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-224	CADRP-224

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)

I am a loving a dedicated parent. I love my children and as such I believe that as a parent I have the right to discipline my children in a way that is appropriate for them. I believe that a gentle smack is poles apart from child abuse. The only reason I would use a gentle smack is where I feel it is the most appropriate form of discipline. I also use praise and reward to reinforce good behaviour and I use such methods as removing a child from a situation or removing privileges and giving incentives for good behaviour. However sometimes a gentle smack gives a clear boundary on some situations and is easily understood by a toddler who finds methods such as a time out very distressing and confusing. I am very concerned that loving parenting is going to be criminalised and this will take social services away from genuine cases of abuse. I think that accountability for parents will be much better if they are allowed to discipline their children in an open and transparent way so that actual abuse can be clearly distinguished from parents who are acting out of pure love for their children and wanting to raise their children in a way that will teach them to be well disciplined, law abiding adults.

Please do not criminalise parents who want the best for their children and who are trying to raise them in a way that works for their individual children. Please trust that good parents know and love their children and know what range of strategies work. We are on dangerous ground where the state starts to rule family life.

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, as the law already protects children from violence. There is a clear difference between a loving parent acting in the best interest of their child, and someone who seeks to cause harm, which is clearly wrong. We also should not be trying to legislate to protect children in the same way as adults, when children have very different needs and requirements.

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)

I think that views of parents should be very carefully considered and the impact of such drastic state intervention.

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, that much distress could be caused to loving parents and their children.

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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