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
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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 believe that it would be wrong to criminalise parents when they use loving parental discipline. I believe that it is the parent who should have control over their own children and that this should be reinforced in order to protect the child and not undermined. The parent child role is what our society is built upon parents love teach support and guide their children and if they need to use discipline in those situations then they should not be criminalised,

When a child is too small to understand a verbal warning then a light smack can warn them quickly and safely and prevent them from hurting themselves.

I do not believe that smacking a child is child abuse it is very wrong to use this term as i think it undermines the very serious situations that some children have to face by putting smacking in the same category

I understand that children need to be protected but treating them as equal with adults is wrong there are age related rules for many issues so are you saying that its unfair to prevent a child drinking, being married etc etc..

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 I believe that it would only criminalise many innocent parents and put incredible pressure on social services and police

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)

i would repeat my comments in my previous answer

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)

I feel this would take many stretched resources away from the much needed areas and would have very affect in actually reducing children being harmed

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 would again like to emphase that i believe innocent parents will be caught up rather than those who are harming there children