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-333

CADRP-333

 

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)

As a parent of four children, I did when they were below the age of 6 discipline them using a quick smack to the hand. This was an effective tool in excersizing loving discipline. it is helpful before the children are old enough to understand reason,to impress on them that they must obey ,in order to keep them safe from much greater harm. I found that when the children were sure of the boundaries and the consequences of going past those boundaries that as a family we were able to deal with issues far more easily and that benefitted our relationship. I think this is far healthier for the child and more effective than the continuous berating ,nagging, cajoling and detracting that seem to be the tools used when the boundaries are unclear. Smacking in a controlled,loving way is the opposite of abuse. My children have and are(the youngest is 12) loving caring members of the community and were always praised in school for being helpful and obedient pupils who were an example to their peers but if the law changes they would be victims of child abuse!

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)

The law already has sufficient powers to protect children from violence but in fact fails often because of difficulty in evidence or lack of resources.This bill will not protean more children from real harm. Resources need to go to helping families with parenting issues and to serious child protection issues.

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)

With already overstretched police force that often fail to deal with " more minor" crimes like burglary, common assault and domestic violence because of underfunding, how would this Bill be implemented anyway?

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)

You are making criminals of the many loving parents with good family relationships.

You are taking the responsibility for making child rearing decisions away from parents and putting them in hands of government when government is not the best body to make those decisions on behalf of an individual child.

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)

Please see previous answers. If government has spare resources then they should be spent on teaching and social work so that real harm can be reduced.

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)

A consolation has already taken place and there is no evidence that themajority of public support this so why not put energies into implementing laws already passed and policies that public want and need.