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-540

CADRP-540

 

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)

1. Should this Bill be introduced there would be the strong risk that it would make criminals of loving, caring parents through their use of  reasonable discipline in the form of smacking.

2. Should this Bill be introduced it would cause great difficulties in the policing of it, with the police being overwhelmed with what would be trivial reports of so-called child abuse.  Meanwhile, the likelihood would be that the serious incidents would be missed on account of the volume of the trivial reporting.

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 do not believe that there is a need for the legislation which this Bill is trying to achieve.  The present law already offers the necessary protection for 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)

There would be great difficulties in implementing the Bill with regards to policing it.  The great number of trivial incidents which would be reported would make an excessive workload for an already stretched Police Force.  Meanwhile the real abuse cases would likely be missed on account of the over-whelming reporting of trivia.

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)

Should this Bill be introduced it would make criminals of loving, caring parents who wish to exercise their right to give reasonable discipline to their children through smacking.

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)

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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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