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-304	CADRP-304

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)

The reason i am against this bill is because

a) Smacking has always been a form of discipline in which should not be criminalised

b) A smack if it leaves a mark is already illegal so this bill is not to ‘protect children from abuse’ because any violence, or marks on a child is already illegal. Simply this bill will go against the reasonable punishment law which protects children’s and parents rights.

c) The bill takes away parental freedom to choose how to bring theirs child up and will criminalise many good parents.

Banning smacking will overwhelm police and social workers and turn thousands of parents into potential criminals . Most definitely It should be the role of a parent to decide whether to smack their child, not the Government.

Smacking is not child abuse. The Current law already protects children from violence.

A 2017 ComRes poll found that 76% of Welsh adults were against criminalising smacking.

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)

Not at all, Law is already in place to prevent abuse and violence so the law should remain as it is today allowing parents to have freedom of how to discipline and raise their 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)

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)

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)

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)