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-249

CADRP-249

 

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)

Parents should be allowed to discipline their own children appropriately, and an occasional smack from a loving parent is NOT a form of abuse.  It seems to me that far too much emotive language has been used around the whole issue, particularly by the press and politicians. The police have enough to do without criminalising thousands of loving and caring parents, but it would be their duty to investigate allegations, leading to the possible removal of children from their homes.  The state does not have the right to interfere in dictating to parents how to discipline their own children in the home environment - it is the role of the parent to decide how to discipline their child.  Treating ordinary parents like abusers could cause unnecessary anxiety for children and stigmatise their 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)

DEFINITELY NOT!  Unreasonable chastisement is already unlawful, whereas ‘reasonable chastisement ‘ only protects parents who use a mild smack.

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)

A recent poll suggests that the vast majority of the electorate in Wales are against this proposed legislation.

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.  Previous findings appear to have been ignored.

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)

Note previous comments in 1.2 regarding understaffed police force, criminalising parents, removal of children, etc

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)

-

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)

-