New legislation, which would ban adults from being able to smack their children has been introduced in Wales.
The government-led bill is being supported by a number of organisations including the NSPCC, Barnardo's and Action for Children, and comes as a private members bill in Scotland is currently being considered by MSPs, which would remove the defence of "justifiable assault" in Scots law. The bill will now be scrutinised by AMs, with Welsh government sources confident it will be passed by the National Assembly and brought into law after achieving Royal Assent by Spring 2020.
Wales would join the 54 countries around the world, which have already banned the physical punishment of children, including Greece, Latvia, Albania, DR Congo, Kenya, with Sweden being the first to do so back in 1979. Professor Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "When a parent raises a hand to a defenceless child, whether that's a smack, slap or another physically harmful behaviour, they have lost control.
Rubbish! That is just a smoke screen for their totally uncalled for plans to criminalise decent, loving parents if they discipline their out-of-control kids. Throw this bill out NOW. smacking