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-523

CADRP-523

 

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 believe that there is still a place for a mild smack as a form of loving discipline in a healthy parenting relationship. Different children respond differently to various forms of correction, and there is a time and place where a light physical rebuke is the best form of correction for a certain child. This is very different from any sort of physical abuse or assault. Parents who use this form of discipline should not have to fear being criminalised for it. There is still a place for reasonable chastisement.

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)

No.

The current laws are sufficient and only need to be enforced to keep children safe from abuse.

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)

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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)

Yes.

Caring parents who are honestly doing their best to parent their children will be liable to be prosecuted for assault after only a mild smack. If this leads to greater stress for the parents, financial hardship or even removal of the children, this could result in real emotional harm to the child who was not previously at risk.

Enforcement of this will create 'busy work' for social services without helping at-risk children. Those children who are truly at risk from parents who would assault and abuse them will risk being lost in even higher caseloads for social workers who are already overstretched, and thus have even less protection from their abusers.

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)

Yes.

Enforcement of this will create unnecessary pressure on social services and policing, draining much needed resources from already over-stretched departments.

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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