WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS?

FROM November 7, people in Scotland are being urged to dial 999 if they see a parent smacking their child. Why? It won’t stop real offenders, who invariably carry out their abuse behind closed doors. It just means innocent, frazzled mums will be hauled through the courts because a busybody spotted them giving their hysterical toddler a slap on the legs in Sainsbury’s. All it does is make politicians feel better about themselves – while doing nothing to tackle the real causes of systemic child abuse.