Ministers face new call to bin smacking ban plan
ACAMPAIGN will be launched today aimed at defeating Welsh Government plans to outlaw the smacking of children by their parents.
Be Reasonable has published the results of a commissioned poll which suggests three quarters of Wales’ over-16s do not believe a ban would help vulnerable children.
The campaign claims the proposal risks stereotyping thousands of ordinary parents as no better than violent thugs and child abusers, for disciplining their children.
Lowri Turner, a Welsh mother of one who is a spokeswoman for the campaign, said: “The people calling for this change are using hysterical and manipulative language.
“They’re trying to make out that a gentle smack on the back of the legs from a loving mum is the same as beating up your kids. Does anyone seriously think that sort of abuse is not already illegal?”
Speaking at the launch of the campaign in Cardiff today, Swansea University academic Dr Ashley Frawley will warn that removing the defence of reasonable chastisement from legislation could open the floodgates to thousands of minor incidents being reported to the police and social services – already stretched services.
The Welsh Government said it had made a firm commitment to seek cross-party support for legislation to remove the defence of reasonable punishment.
PLANS by the Welsh Government to ban the smacking of children would be an unprecedented power grab that would criminalise thousands of ordinary parents, according to campaigners.
The Welsh Government is seeking cross-party support for a Bill to end the defence of “reasonable chastisement” when allegations of assault are made against parents or guardians.
A campaign group calling itself Be Reasonable is today launching a petition opposing proposals which it says would leave parents facing fines or jail.
Polling carried out for the group by ComRes suggests proposals from the Welsh Government are not supported by parents or the wider public.
The campaign warns that the Welsh Government proposals risk painting thousands of ordinary parents as no better than violent thugs and child abusers, merely for disciplining their children.
Lowri Turner, a Welsh mother of one who is a spokeswoman for the campaign, said: “The people calling for this change are using hysterical and manipulative language. They’re trying to make out that a gentle smack on the back of the legs from a loving mum is the same as beating up your kids. Does anyone seriously think that sort of abuse is not already illegal?
“If the Government can’t tell the difference then they shouldn’t be passing laws about it.
“Our campaign’s research shows that 85% of Welsh adults were smacked as children and nearly 70% agree that it’s sometimes necessary to smack a naughty child.
“Campaigners for a ban know that the public is against them and these new findings confirm that – the move is widely seen as an unwanted intrusion by the State.”
The poll of more than 1,000 Welsh adults found three quarters of those questioned thought the ban would not help protect vulnerable children.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign in Cardiff today, Dr Ashley Frawley, a sociology and social policy expert from Swansea University, will warn that removing the defence of reasonable chastisement from legislation could open the floodgates to thousands of minor incidents being reported to the police and social services – overwhelming already stretched services.
More than three quarters (77%) of those polled expressed concern a smacking ban might flood police and social workers with trivial cases, which would mean they struggle to stop genuine abuse, while just one in eight (12%) disagreed.
Dr Frawley said: “For some reason parenting is now seen as the root of all society’s problems. There’s already a huge amount of pressure on parents and they don’t need the added fear of being separated from their children because someone in the Government happens not to like the way they bring them up.
“Parents are increasingly the target of intervention because of this misguided belief that only the so-called professionals can do the job – using a load of performance indicators. This trashes the messy, joyful, wonderful nature of family life and makes it subject to state surveillance.
“The Welsh Government needs to resist the temptation to interfere in how parents choose to raise their children. Changing the law is a gross interference in family life and it’s entirely unnecessary because the law already protects children from abuse.”
Colin Harris, who practised as a solicitor for 45 years, including almost 30 years on the Law Society children’s panel, said: “If smacking becomes a criminal offence, what happens to the family after the child has given evidence in court and the mother is convicted and punished?
“The relationship between a parent and their child is unique, and comes with unique responsibilities. Politicians must not create a legal fiction by treating ordinary parental discipline as if it was criminal assault.
“In 30 years of working with dysfunctional families I have seen the harm that comes from lack of love, affection and affirmation. I’ve also seen the harm that comes from lack of patient reprimand when children behave badly.
“Within the special context of the parent and child relationship, a parent may legitimately decide to use moderate, reasonable chastisement. The law has long respected this as part of the authority which parents have in relation to their own children. I practised criminal law for decades. Criminalising a smack given in love and as necessary parental discipline cannot be justified.”
Mrs Turner will tell the campaign launch: “The current law was tightened in 2004. People understand it and there doesn’t seem to be any problem with it. We already have good, strong laws protecting children from abuse.
“The Assembly has all these new powers – this is hardly the best way to use them. Do all these politicians seriously think this is the most pressing issue facing Wales today?
“The Welsh Government is not going to improve child welfare by criminalising good parents and massively adding to the workloads of overstretched social workers and police.”
A Welsh Government spokeswoman responded: “We have made a firm commitment to seek cross party support for legislation to remove the defence of reasonable punishment. This will form part of our wider work to promote positive parenting. We will consult fully on proposals over the next 12 months to ensure views are received from a wide range of people.”