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-474

CADRP-474

 

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)

There is a big difference between hitting a chid (assault and battery) and smacking a child as a last resort as part of family discipline. 

Hitting a child is wrong and deserves full response through the law. 

Smacking a child is a strand of discipline within the family and is occasionally necessary for young children who are wilfully disobedient.  A smack should only be administered in a controlled way and not as a reaction to a child's confrontation with a parent.  Ideally, it should be administered as a last resort, and the child reminded that it is a discipline and an act of love.

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.  There is sufficient legislation to deal with child abuse (assault and battery) which protects children. 

There should not be legislation preventing parents from appropriately disciplining their children.

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)

Have faith communities been consulted openly?  I am a Christian and administer discipline to my children in line with the Bible's teaching.  I resent the Bible's teaching making Christians criminals for endeavouring to ensure their children grow up to be balanced citizens.

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)

The Bill should not be implemented.  It does not protect children - it enfeebles parents and there is plenty of legislation available to punish parents who ABUSE their chikdren.  This is different to smacking.

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)

Not every child needs to be smacked to its parents in a disciplinary way.

However, those that do need it because reasoning, persuasion and distraction have not worked in terms of encouraging good behaviour and dealing with bad.

Such a Bill would ensure a generation of children grow up in Wales who do not respect authority, and would not contribute positively to the society of which they are part.

Laws are already in place to punish those who beat, hit and abuse their children, and rightly so. 

This is very different to a parent who needs to smack a child because all other forms of discipline have not worked on this occasion.

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)

A waste of WG time and resources.

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)

I fail to understand why WG is so keen to implement such legislation.

It criminalises decent parents.

Parents (and others) who hit, assault, batter and abuse children deserve the long punishment that the law metes out.

Smacking a child as a controlled form of discipline is not hitting, abusing, battering or assaulting a child, and never will be.

An undisciplined child becomes a criminal, whilst being  drain n educational resources in schools etc.