Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Time for a ban on smacking children
Calls for rest of UK to follow Jersey
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a Uk-wide ban on smacking children after Jersey made it illegal.
The British isle joined 53 other countries after voting to remove a section of law that allowed parents or guardians to do it if they used “reasonable” force.
Scotland and Wales are to follow suit this year, but England is yet to do so and Northern Ireland has no functioning government. It means the UK remains one of four European countries where smacking is permitted. Children’s Commissioner for England Anne Longfield yesterday renewed calls for a blanket ban.
She said: “The legislation in England, granting an exemption from the law on common assault to allow the physical punishment of children, is outdated.
“It should be updated to reflect what the majority of parents believe: that hitting children is wrong.” On Tuesday, Jersey voted 38-3 in favour of the amendment to its Children Law 2002.
Children’s Minister Sam Mezec said: “We don’t have a good history when it comes to looking after children. It is right that we deal with this now.”
Bills closing the reasonableforce loophole are due to pass votes in Wales and Scotland but there are no plans in England and Northern Ireland.
The Children Act 2004 forbids hitting that causes bruises, cuts or scratches.
Government last year said violence against children can “never be condoned” but a law change risked “criminalising parents”. They said people who harm children could still be prosecuted.