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-273

CADRP-273

 

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)

Loving parents want the very best for their children and desire that they should grow up to be well-rounded, respectful and law-abiding citizens within society. In order for this to be so children need to know boundaries and to be taught which behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable. Sometimes when children misbehave they need correcting. In the case of very young children a  tap/smack is all that is required to make the child understand that rules must be obeyed. In older children removal of privileges is often more effective. Disciplining  of children by smacking should in no way be considered as a criminal offence but rather as a loving,  constructive way of educating children in  the difference between right and wrong. Smacking is not child abuse but  loving parental discipline.Tthere is a profound difference!!

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)

By no means. An unnecessary expense and in my opinion a waste of tax payers money!!

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)

A smacking ban would turn thousands of parents into potential criminals overnight while doing little to stop bad parents abusing children. What a ridiculous and dangerous  proposition!! A recent poll (2017 ComRes poll) found that over  three-quarters of Welsh parents are against this bill. Who do politicians represent? I thought it was the people. The people are against this proposed bill. Shouldn't that be enough to stop its implementation!!  T he results of recent local government elections in England should be a warning to the Welsh governement not to treat the views of their electorate lightly!!

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)

Not at all or it would have been scrapped by now!!

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)

Most certainly. Banning smacking could overwhelm police and social workers with trivial reports so that real cases of child abuse are missed. In addition, the increase of child on child violence in Sweden after smacking was banned in 1979 is a warning as to what we, too, can expect following the implementation of  similar  legislation.

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)

Undoubtedly the costs of implementation will be considerable and, in my opinion,  completely unnecessary. What a ridiculous waste of public money. The money would be far better spent on public services such as education and health.

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)

Please, in the interests of the dear children of Wales, don't pursue the implementation of this bill but scrap it asap. Do we really want to see our communities full of unruly children who don't know the difference between right and wrong because their parents weren't allowed to discipline them as infants when  they were too young to understand verbal warnings or the significance of the removal of privileges?!!