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-616

CADRP-616

 

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 realised some while ago that the Police could solve considerably more crimes if they had the financial resources to recruit and train many more staff.  The CCTV, mobile phone, email and other intelligence that is available, and and the huge potential of DNA testing to identify criminals, makes the solving of the vast majority of crimes possible – if the Police had the resources.

And now the Labour leadership in the Welsh Assembly intends to embark on a project, against the will of the people of Wales as expressed in opinion polls, to ‘criminalise' parents who smack their children!  Investigating possible ‘criminal’ behaviour by parents who have allegedly smacked their children would put a huge extra load on the Police (and social services and other agencies as well) at a time when the Police is already vastly overstretched and can only investigate, due to lack of resources, the most serious of crimes.  Child abuse is already illegal.  But to make a gentle slap illegal and to put it in the same category as abuse is absurd – even Carwyn Jones, the retired First Minister, admitted to smacking his own children, and I am sure it was loving admonishment and certainly not an act of ‘abuse’.

Now is the time to show solidarity with the Police by resisting a huge unnecessary extra work burden being placed on them.  Please do not support a smacking ban.  Many thanks.

 

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!

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)

As said in 1.2

I realised some while ago that the Police could solve considerably more crimes if they had the financial resources to recruit and train many more staff.  The CCTV, mobile phone, email and other intelligence that is available, and and the huge potential of DNA testing to identify criminals, makes the solving of the vast majority of crimes possible – if the Police had the resources.

And now the Labour leadership in the Welsh Assembly intends to embark on a project, against the will of the people of Wales as expressed in opinion polls, to ‘criminalise' parents who smack their children!  Investigating possible ‘criminal’ behaviour by parents who have allegedly smacked their children would put a huge extra load on the Police (and social services and other agencies as well) at a time when the Police is already vastly overstretched and can only investigate, due to lack of resources, the most serious of crimes.  Child abuse is already illegal.  But to make a gentle slap illegal and to put it in the same category as abuse is absurd – even Carwyn Jones, the retired First Minister, admitted to smacking his own children, and I am sure it was loving admonishment and certainly not an act of ‘abuse’.

Now is the time to show solidarity with the Police by resisting a huge unnecessary extra work burden being placed on them.  Please do not support a smacking ban.  Many thanks.

 

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)

As stated in 1.2 and 2.1

I realised some while ago that the Police could solve considerably more crimes if they had the financial resources to recruit and train many more staff.  The CCTV, mobile phone, email and other intelligence that is available, and and the huge potential of DNA testing to identify criminals, makes the solving of the vast majority of crimes possible – if the Police had the resources.

And now the Labour leadership in the Welsh Assembly intends to embark on a project, against the will of the people of Wales as expressed in opinion polls, to ‘criminalise' parents who smack their children!  Investigating possible ‘criminal’ behaviour by parents who have allegedly smacked their children would put a huge extra load on the Police (and social services and other agencies as well) at a time when the Police is already vastly overstretched and can only investigate, due to lack of resources, the most serious of crimes.  Child abuse is already illegal.  But to make a gentle slap illegal and to put it in the same category as abuse is absurd – even Carwyn Jones, the retired First Minister, admitted to smacking his own children, and I am sure it was loving admonishment and certainly not an act of ‘abuse’.

Now is the time to show solidarity with the Police by resisting a huge unnecessary extra work burden being placed on them.  Please do not support a smacking ban.  Many thanks.

 

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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