Smacking ban

SIR – It is time to ban the physical punishment of children.

This week Wales introduced a ban on smacking, following similar legislation in Scotland. The children of England and Northern Ireland should be protected too. Physical punishment can lead to a lower quality of the parent and child relationship, poorer mental health in childhood and adulthood, higher levels of aggression and antisocial behaviour, and an increased risk of being a victim of physical abuse. It is not an effective strategy to bring about long-term improvements in children’s behaviour.

The current law allows a defence of “reasonable punishment” – but as this relates to the intent, rather than the impact of smacking, it is almost impossible to prove that punishment is unreasonable. Smacking is outdated and we believe there are many more effective ways of teaching children to behave appropriately than by hitting them. Sixty countries have banned smacking. It is now time for a ban across the whole of Britain. Kate Fallon

General Secretary, Association of Educational Psychologists Professor Russell Viner

President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Professor Martin Marshall

Chair of Council, Royal College of General Practitioners Julie Bentley

Chief Executive, Action for Children Jo Hobbs

Chief Executive, British Youth Council and 10 others; see telegraph.co.uk