Experts call for NI ban on smacking children as punishment

THE law in Northern Ireland must be changed to end the practice of smacking children, paediatricians have urged.

Currently in England and NI, a parent can use the defence of “reasonable punishment” to justify physically punishing a child in certain circumstances, for example by slapping, smacking, or hitting.

Children’s doctors in both countries are now calling for equal protection for children and young people against such physical assault.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published a landmark report which lays out the health, education, and legal case for a legislative change to remove the “reasonable punishment” defence and to prohibit all physical punishment of children in all circumstances in England and Northern Ireland.

While adults in both countries are protected by law from all forms of physical assault, children do not have this same protection in all circumstances.

Scotland and Wales are among more than 60 other countries around the world that have brought in measures to give children the same protection from assault that adults enjoy.

Recommendations in the report include amending the Law Reform Order 2006 in Northern Ireland and introducing a smacking ban in legislation.

RCPCH Officer for Ireland, Dr Ray Nethercott, pointed out that “smacking a child is not a necessary nor harmless form of discipline”.

“By introducing this small legislative change, we can level the playing field for children and young people across the UK, reduce instances of child abuse, and create a safer and healthier society for our children.”

Bess Herbert, Advocacy Specialist at End Corporal Punishment, said: “The science on physical punishment of children is now settled. Hundreds of studies have found that it is associated with a wide range of negative outcomes, including physical harm, poorer mental and physical health, atypical brain function, lower cognitive development and educational outcomes, school dropout, increased aggression and poor moral internalisation, and perpetration of violence and anti-social behaviour in adulthood.

“I hope that England and Northern Ireland will soon join the ever-growing number of countries that have taken this fundamental step in protecting children, upholding their rights, and supporting healthy and positive child raising.”