Consultation on the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill

Tystiolaeth i’r Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg ar gyfer craffu Cyfnod 1 Bil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru)

Evidence submitted to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill

CADRP-235

CADRP-235

 

About you

Individual

1      The Bill’s general principles

1.1     Do you support the principles of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill?

— No

1.2     Please outline your reasons for your answer to question 1.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

The Bill's proposals, if implemented, would be a State intrusion into parenting.

 

We are not talking about the  physical abuse of children here. What is being criminalised here is

 mild punishment, ideally used only as last resort, which large numbers of children (myself included)

 have experienced in this and previous generations without any long-term physical or mental harm.

Further, how would the ban on smacking be enforced? By further demands on the time of our already overstyretched and underfunded police forces and/or social workers? Would the word of

a child reporting Daddy to the police because he'd had a smack on the bottom stand up in a court of law before a defence lawyer who is aware that a large majority of people surveyed  believe this Bill to be at best misguided and at worst a wqeapon to criminalise parents>

1.3     Do you think there is a need for legislation to deliver what this Bill is trying to achieve?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

I have heard that this Bill is to some extent a tidying-up process of the relevant legal statutes and that the defence of reasonable chastisement has only been used in a tiny number of cases in recent years. If this is so, there is little point in spending time and money on a point of law which has fallen, like so many others, into near disuse when there are matters far more worthy of the Assemnly's attention.

2      The Bill’s implementation

2.1     Do you have any comments about any potential barriers to  implementing the Bill? If no, go to question 3.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

No, if the Bill was to fall for lack of time or any other reason, it would not put children at greater risk.

2.2     Do you think the Bill takes account of these potential barriers?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

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3      Unintended consequences

3.1     Do you think there are there any unintended consequences arising from the Bill? If no, go to question 4.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

4      Financial implications

4.1     Do you have any comments on the financial implications of the Bill (as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum)? If no, go to question 5.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

As has already been pointed out by opponents of the Bill, much time and money could be wasted in dealing with false or malicious allegations ahainst parents

5      Other considerations

5.1     Do you have any other points you wish to raise about this Bill?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

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