CARING FOR CHILDREN Campaigning for quality services for children

Physical Punishment

FICE E&W / CfC is opposed to all forms of assault on children and young people, including corporal punishment, and believes that the justification of “reasonable chastisement” should be abolished

Now is the chance to insert a clause in the Children Bill currently being considered at Westminster. It is understood that the House of Lords is considering an amendment and that the Government may choose not to oppose it, though their line is that parents should have the decision whether to smack or not in the context of a loving relationship.

It is well-known, however, that abusers who have clearly hit their children excessively use the defence of reasonable chastisement to justify their behaviour. If that defence is removed, they will no longer be able to hide behind it.

This will not mean, though, that every smack will lead to a prosecution.

Children should be brought up through positive rewards where possible. They do also need boundaries set for their behaviour, but these can generally be maintained through consistent adult responses and explanation. Where adults rely upon fear and violence to maintain control, the child learns all the wrong messages about relationships and how to live, and parents must be dissuaded from relying on these methods.