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-496

CADRP-496

 

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)

I am very concerned that this Bill would criminalise loving, conscientious parents. The very parents who are the most concerned about the well being, behaviour and discipline of their children. No one is saying that it is ok to 'beat' their children or give them 'a good hiding'. Laws are already in place to protect children from such cruelty.

Smacking can be used to warn children of potential dangers before they are old enough to understand language.

As a mother of 3 I know that different children respond better to different kinds of discipline, smacking being just part of a whole gambit of measures. I would rather see government time and money being spent helping people to parent responsibly (including smacking but not exclusively) by education and classes rather than criminalising them before they've even begun.

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)

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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)

The whole thing will be an utter nightmare for social services and police alike. Without a huge increase in funding it is utterly undeliverable.

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)

No.

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)

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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)

You have an entire section in Part 2 on unquantified costs. It's lunacy to go ahead with this Bill without having thought about these costs.They will plainly be heavy and put huge stress upon the bodies mentioned.

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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