Modifies behaviour

THE confirmation this week that the Welsh Government will be legislating for a socalled smacking ban is the kind of announcement that could be designed to raise the hackles of traditionalists.

The notion that the state should be entitled to interfere in the way parents choose to bring up their children is seen by some as anathema.

It’s important, however, that debate about the proposal should be conducted not on the basis of emotion, but on the basis of evidence – in fact, just like any other piece of legislation.

We therefore welcome today’s report on the issue from the Wales Centre for Public Policy. It has inconvenient conclusions for those on both sides of the debate.

Refuting the suggestion that smacking children is the best way to discipline them, the report says there is no evidence that smacking has better results in terms of outcome than other, non-violent methods of punishment.

On the other hand, it cannot be concluded definitively that light smacking produces a damaging impact on the children smacked.

What is not in doubt is that seriously violent conduct by a parent towards a child is likely to have harmful long-term consequences.

In fact, of course, it’s inaccurate to refer to the Welsh Government’s proposal as a “smacking ban”. Instead, the legislation would disable the defence of “reasonable punishment” that is currently available to parents accused of assaulting their children in Wales and England.

It’s worth bearing in mind that such cases are virtually unheard of.

Over the years, there have been many instances where parents have seriously assaulted children, sometimes leaving them very seriously injured. In the worst examples, children have died. The idea of offering a “reasonable punishment” defence in such circumstances would be absurd.

There is evidence from other countries which shows that after a smacking ban, the number of prosecutions is extremely low. The thinking is that, aware of the new legal position, parents will moderate their behaviour and use nonviolent means to discipline their children. That’s certainly the experience since the smoking ban was introduced. The great majority of people decided to abide by the law, and now do not consider smoking in indoor public places.

Let’s hope the same experience applies after the smacking ban is enacted.