Smacking ban: Yay or Nay?

Smacking children in England and Wales should be banned, says children doctors.

Smacking could be banned in England and Northern Ireland, following new reports.Photo: Godstime David

Paediatricians are calling for a ban on parents smacking children, citing a long-term mental health issues.

Currently, in England and Northern Ireland, parents can ‘smack’ or physically chastise a child so long as it is deemed a ‘reasonable’ punishment." However, there's pressure on ministers to change the law, making smacking always illegal, as in Scotland and Wales.

According to a report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), smacking can cause long-term harm and contribute to a "cycle of violence." It increases the likelihood of poor mental health, academic struggles, and physical abuse.

Sunderland man, Derek Park, said: "We are told that violence solves nothing although the mere threat of physical punishment whether at school, home or on the streets was a pretty effective deterrent most of the time when I was a youngster.

"Now, our youth are completely aware of their rights but equally ignorant of the social responsibilities which accompany them.

"Perhaps these academics, instead of inflicting their opinions on the majority, should first come up with a more effective means of instilling discipline?"

Ighan Mohan, 41, said: " There is absolutely nothing wrong in disciplining my child the way i see fit. I know what physical assault is. It's definitely not smacking."

The 41-year-old mother of two, said no parent should be told how to be a parent. Instead, attention should be focused on more pressing issues in the country.

Customer service representative, Mike Alstair, said: "Every child should be treated like equals. There is no defense for physical assault, regardless of the age. Smacking a child does not make them better adults or instil any form of discipline- so what's the point?

"As a child, this 'so-called' discipline made me immune to certain punishments, to the extent that i did the things i really wanted to do without my parents approval. I just knew what was coming, and prepared."

The 33-year-old single dad, said he would rather not raise his daughter the way he was raised.

The RCPCH condemns smacking as a violation of children's rights. The paediatricians want the Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, to change the law before the upcoming general election.

They want all political parties to commit to this change in their election manifestos.