Parents could face five YEARS in jail if they smack their kids under proposals from the children’s tsar. Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza announced she would be “supportive” of a law against hitting youngsters.
But Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi opposed the move, claiming discipline should be “left to parents”. He admitted his wife has “on occasion” given their nine-year-old daughter a “light smack on the arm” when she’s being naughty.
As it stands, it is unlawful for a parent or carer to smack their child in England. But, there is a “reasonable punishment” defense if the child only sustains a “transient or trifling injury” – but it is up to a court to decide whether it applies.
While Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza has spoken out in support of the ban being imposed in England, others have opposed the move. While Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza has spoken out in support of the ban being imposed in England, others have opposed the move.
While the law in England does encompass other ‘protections for children, if the parent only causes the child a ‘transient or trifling injury’ there is a ‘reasonable punishment’ defense parents can use.
However, whether the parent is convicted or not is ultimately up to the court. De Souza reflected on how Scotland and Wales’ scrapping of the defense is a ‘great opportunity to look, watch it’ and see how it goes.
“I would be supportive – certainly, from what we’ve seen so far – I would be supportive if our government decided to do the same,” she said. De Souze explained she ‘certainly admire[s] Scotland and Wales moving on this’. “[…] It’s certainly something I think we should consider,” she resolved.
