Majority of Scots oppose smacking ban, says campaign
● Poll finds 74% oppose Holyrood plan to make member’s bill law
Three-quartersof Scottish adults oppose a ban on smacking children, according to a newpoll released after the Scottish Government confirmed it intends to outlaw the practice.
With Scotland set to become the first country in the UK to make smacking illegal, a campaign against the ban is being prepared north of the Border.
A Com Res poll commissioned by the campaign group Be ReasonableS cotland showed 74 percent of Scots did not believe smacking should be a criminal offence. Work on the campaign, which is supported by the Christian Institute and the Family Education Trust, has been taking place over the last few weeks.
The findings of the poll of 1,010 people were released after the Scottish Government said it would ensure Green MSP John Finnie’s member’s bill advocatinga smacking ban would gets through Holyrood.
Labour has also said it intends to support Mr Finnie’s bill, making its passagethrough parliament a formality.
Children’s Commissioners in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK back a ban. But the Be Reasonable campaign accused ministers of breaking its promise not criminalise ordinary parents for smacking children.
In April, the Scottish Government said it was opposed to physical punishment of children, but did not intend to bring forward legislation that “could potentially criminalise parents for lightly smacking their children”.
Accordingto the Co mr es survey, three- quarters of those surveyed believed parents, rather than the state, should decide on smacking.
Eightout often felt leg isla ti on would see police and social workers overwhelmed, and two-thirds thought it was sometimes necessary to smack a naughty child.
Those against a smacking ban believe existing laws are strong enough to punish those who assault children.
Be Reasonable Scotland said: “Criminalising parents for smacking their own children isa gross intrusion on family life by politicians who are totally out of touch with real people. It will overload police and social workers, making it even harder for them to find andhelp children who are being abused.”
It added :“It’ s one thing to have an opinion about smacking. It’s another to criminalise those who parent differently from you.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Mr Finnie’s proposals are not a Scottish Governmentbill, however, we will ensure the proposals become law.
“We believe physical punishment can have negative effects on children whichcan last long after the physical pain has died away.”