Latest news with #ChildrenActof2004
Sky News
06-03-2025
- Sky News
Doctors demand smacking ban in England to end 'Victorian-era punishment' which harms children
It's time for the "Victorian-era punishment" of smacking children to be banned in England as it "undoubtedly harms children's health", according to a group representing leading doctors. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has urged for a change in the law, to scrap a defence which allows a parent to hit their child where it is judged "reasonable punishment". The group says that those opposing a smacking ban should look at the scientific evidence which shows that it causes physical and emotional damage and "doesn't benefit them in any way whatsoever". Professor Andrew Rowland, a consultant paediatrician and RCPCH officer for child protection, said some 67 countries around the world have already adopted smacking bans, with a further 20 committing to do so. "That defence of reasonable punishment of children in England has been around since 1860 but, in recent legislation, it was introduced in the Children Act of 2004. "Now is the time for this Victorian-era punishment to go and the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill amendment will do that if passed." Scotland became the first part of UK to make smacking children illegal in 2020, Wales outlawed physical punishment of children in 2022. But in England and Northern Ireland punishment is allowed, although what is reasonable depends on each case. Labour MP Jess Asato, who tabled the amendment, said: "The health impact evidence of assault on children is clear, and that's why so many other countries, including Scotland and Wales, have now ensured that children have equal protection from assault and battery." In December Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England, demanded urgent reforms following the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif by her father and stepmother. She said it was "a heartbreaking reminder of the profound weaknesses in our child protection system". "What haunts me the most about Sara's death is that her father used the words 'I legally punished my child' believing this to be a defence to murder," she added. 7:09 A poll of 3,500 adults in England carried out by YouGov on behalf of the NSPCC in January 2024 found that 71% think smacking, hitting, slapping, or shaking a child is not acceptable. Commenting on the effectiveness of smacking, Prof Rowland said: "The best scientific evidence I've got is that physical punishment of children undoubtedly harms children's health on a population basis. "It harms their physical health, places them at increased risk of serious physical assault, it harms their mental health and it harms their emotional health and their wellbeing - all of that is shown in robust scientific evidence. In August 2024, the NSPCC reported that concerns about children being physically punished had more than tripled in a year. Joanna Barrett, associate head of policy at the charity, said it backs a ban because physical punishment can have a "detrimental impact on a child's wellbeing" and is "associated with depression, anxiety, increased aggression and anti-social behaviour". She added: "Reviews highlight how the law, and the lack of clarity about what is reasonable and what is not, creates difficulties for professionals in assessing and responding to risk. "Legal change must happen urgently, because right now we know physical punishment remains a part of childhood for too many young people in England." School standards minister, Catherine McKinnell, told the Commons in February: "We do not intend to legislate on the defence at this stage" but added they will wait for a review into the impact of a ban implemented in 2022 in Wales. That study is due to be published by the end of 2025. She added: "We recognise that parents have different views and approaches to disciplining their children. "We need to consider their voices, and those of the child, trusted stakeholders and people who might be disproportionately affected by the removal of the defence, in making any decisions." Legislation in this area is a devolved matter and it would be up to politicians in Northern Ireland to decide on any reforms.
The Independent
06-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
‘Science doesn't back smacking children' – leading doctors call for ban
Smacking puts children at risk of 'really significant physical harm', leading children's doctors have said as they call for an end to the 'Victorian' punishment. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said smacking children should be consigned to the history books as one senior medic made an emotional plea for politicians to back a smacking ban. Medics urged those opposing a smacking ban to look at the scientific evidence which shows that smacking causes physical and emotional damage and 'doesn't benefit them in any way whatsoever'. According to the Children Act 2004, it is unlawful to hit your child, except where it is 'reasonable punishment', and this is judged on a case-by-case basis. Now the College is calling on parliamentarians to back an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which would remove the 'reasonable punishment' defence from law in England. Professor Andrew Rowland, a consultant paediatrician and RCPCH officer for child protection, told the PA news agency: 'There is an amendment for the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill that we would like to see passed, which would remove the defence of reasonable punishment. 'That defence of reasonable punishment of children in England has been around since 1860 but, in recent legislation, it was introduced in the Children Act of 2004. 'Now is the time for this Victorian-era punishment to go and the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill amendment will do that if passed.' Some 67 countries around the world have already adopted smacking bans, with a further 20 committing to do so, he said. 'The best scientific evidence I've got is that physical punishment of children undoubtedly harms children's health on a population basis,' Prof Rowland said. 'It harms their physical health, places them at increased risk of serious physical assault, it harms their mental health and it harms their emotional health and their wellbeing – all of that is shown in robust scientific evidence. 'There have been no robust scientific studies that have shown that physical punishment of children has any positive effect. 'So it's not just that the use of it harms children, it also doesn't benefit them in any way whatsoever.' The amendment calls for the 'abolition of common law defence of reasonable punishment'. Prof Rowland added: 'It's not a new law, it's just removal of a technical defence.' 'First of all, prohibit a technical legal defence, remove that from legislation, and, secondly, engage with families in the lead-up to that becoming law.' He said the opportunity for change is 'right now', adding: 'If it's not now, there is a real risk that there won't be time throughout the remainder of this Parliament to bring in the legislation that children need, that they deserve, and actually that they're entitled to. 'So this has to be the moment to act.' Calls to introduce a smacking ban intensified after the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif. Sara was murdered in August 2023 after a two-year 'campaign of torture' at the hands of her father and stepmother. Asked about the case, Professor Rowland said: 'What happened to Sara was absolutely horrendous, and I can say that as a paediatrician, but also as a member of the public, that no child should suffer as Sara suffered. 'But I understand there's going to be an inquiry. It would be premature for any organisation to prejudice the outcome of that inquiry.' He went on: 'Unrelated to Sara's case, we know that the international evidence is that children who are physically punished are at risk of serious physical assault – that's been shown academically. 'So we know that physical punishment on a population basis does place children at risk of really significant physical harm. If we want to stop that, the first step has got to be to remove the defence of reasonable punishment. 'That will make it easier – easier for people like me as a paediatrician working in child protection services, for social workers, for police officers, to draw a line and say there are never any circumstances involved where physical punishment of children is ever legal. 'Let's move forward from that and help families to find a way to modify their children's behaviour, to help them grow up happily, healthily and safe from harm in a way that doesn't involve violence.' Labour MP Jess Asato, who tabled the amendment, told PA: 'The health impact evidence of assault on children is clear, and that's why so many other countries, including Scotland and Wales, have now ensured that children have equal protection from assault and battery. 'Physical punishment is as outdated as it is harmful – and it's been long since time to put an end to it. 'The Government now has the opportunity to protect children by legislating to bring in this important measure in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.' A poll of 3,500 adults in England carried out by YouGov on behalf of the NSPCC in January 2024 found that 71% think smacking, hitting, slapping, or shaking a child is not acceptable. Joanna Barrett, associate head of policy at the NSPCC, said: 'We stand in support of the Royal College's calls for children to be given the same protection against physical punishment as adults, and it's clear the obvious next step is to amend the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to remove the 'reasonable punishment' defence. 'Physical punishment can have a detrimental impact on a child's wellbeing. It has been associated with depression, anxiety, increased aggression and anti-social behaviour. 'The defence as it stands creates significant safeguarding issues, and we only need to look to recent safeguarding reviews to see how it can turn a child's safety into a matter of judgment. 'Reviews highlight how the law, and the lack of clarity about what is reasonable and what is not, creates difficulties for professionals in assessing and responding to risk. 'Legal change must happen urgently, because right now we know physical punishment remains a part of childhood for too many young people in England.'
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Doctors back total ban on smacking children in England
Leading child doctors have joined calls for a complete ban on smacking children in England, saying there is no evidence it has any positive effect on their smacking is unlawful in England, except in cases where it amounts to a "reasonable punishment".Now the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) wants that legal defence to be removed, using an amendment to a law which is currently making its way through Department for Education said the government had no plans to change the law on smacking, but that it was committed to giving every child the best start in life. Prof Andrew Rowland, RCPCH officer for child protection, said: "Now is the time for this Victorian-era punishment to go."If enough MPs backed the amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, tabled by Labour MP Jess Asato in January, then the defence of smacking as a "reasonable punishment" would be completely outlawed in the situation on smacking children is different depending on where you are in the Scotland and Wales, corporal - or physical - punishment is illegal, but in England and Northern Ireland the "reasonable punishment" defence still England, the defence is included in the Children Act of 2004, but smacking children has been permitted by law since was the first UK country to ban corporal punishment in November 2020, followed by Wales in March Rowland said there were 67 countries around the world which had already adopted smacking bans, with a further 20 committing to do government said it was "looking closely" at the changes made in Scotland and Wales, but had no plans to legislate on smacking at this stage.A spokesperson said the bill in its current form represented the "single biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation". "This government has prioritised significant reform of the children's social care system, driving better child protection and information sharing between education, health and social workers to stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks," they at a baby sensory group in Sale, Greater Manchester, told the BBC they were all against smacking children, but some were unsure about whether it was right for the government to Leanne Casey, said parents "should be able to discipline how they see fit", but added: "I don't agree with smacking children though, so if a ban is what it takes then I'd agree that is what you need to do."Dad Oli Harrison said he would "never intervene" in another person's parenting methods, but added that a ban would "probably be beneficial" to avoid it being seen as a "grey area". When looking at populations as a whole, Prof Rowland said physical punishment "undoubtedly harms children's health".He said there were no scientific studies which provided robust evidence that smacking had any positive effect on children's for a ban on smacking intensified after the death of 10-year-old Sara was murdered in August 2023 after a "campaign of torture" by her father and stepmother which lasted for two father, who had fled to Pakistan after the murder, had phoned police in England claiming he had "legally punished" Sara before her is unlawful in England to assault a child causing actual or grievous bodily harm, or cruelty, but Prof Rowland said academic studies had shown children who were punished physically were at an increased risk of serious physical said a complete ban on smacking would make it easier for the authorities to "draw a line and say there are never any circumstances involved where physical punishment of children is ever legal".Other organisations, including the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, have also backed the Barrett, from the charity, said smacking had been associated with "depression, anxiety, increased aggression, and antisocial behaviour".She said a legal change was needed "urgently", adding that "right now we know physical punishment remains a part of childhood for too many young people in England".Lynn Perry, chief executive of the Barnardo's children's charity, said: "No violence against children is acceptable. And yet children continue to face less legal protection against physical assault than adults."Additional reporting by Hope Rhodes
