Carrot, not stick

Inhisletterindefenceofsmacki ng children John V Lloyd

( Letters, 30 May) pulls out a number of old chestnuts.

Now here’s a radical concept. If your child is about to run on to a road or touch a hot object, why not pick them up and remove them to safety. Mr Lloyd uses the anodyne description of the “light tap”. The reality is that if physical discipline is to have any effect it will have to hurt. This is a fine message to give to young children: “I hit you because I

love you and want to protect you.”

Mr Lloyd then says that the law is regularly flouted in 60 countries which have banned smacking. He quotes this without hard evidence to support it and also says that in Sweden, parents have been criminalised. Twenty years ago, a small number of parents were cautioned and an even smaller number given nominal fines. In Sweden, there

was an extensive educational campaign launched to publicise the legislative changes which were designed to effect cultural change. This has been achieved.

He also repeats his dubious assertion that Police Scotland have said the law cannot be implemented. He never mentions that Police Scotland support the introduction of the legislation.

In his letter Mr Lloyd gets a lot wrong but there’s a germ of truth in the headline above his letter. If there’s any danger of Scotland being a laughing stock it’s because we’ve taken so long to outlaw this antediluvian practice which most of our young parents have long since abandoned.

GILL TURNER Derby Street , Edinburgh