Plaid Cymru AM Lindsay Whittle has demanded the Welsh Government moves to ban the smacking of children.
Lindsay Whittle declared that as far as physical punishment of children was concerned Britain was in the “dark ages”.
Speaking during discussion on the annual report of the Children Commissioner for Wales he said: “The report points out the vexed question of whether to ban the smacking of children has occupied the Welsh Government for the past ten years. That is far too long.
“Despite a general cross-party consensus that smacking children should not be tolerated, and despite a motion to that effect having been agreed some months ago, we have yet to see this Government take action to legislate on this matter.”
Mr Whittle, who represents South Wales East, said: “In appointing a children’s commissioner, the Welsh Government-led the way. It was a bold move and England followed.
“Today, we are tarred with the same brush as England, because the United Nations has slated Britain as one of just five countries in Europe that has not banned what amounts to physical assault on children by parents or other carers. I have received very few comments from members of the public who oppose a ban. A few who were against me included ministers of the cloth churning out the old cliché, ‘Well, it didn’t do me any harm’. However, when I read about the abuse of children in certain religious quarters, I am tempted to take those statements and treat them with the contempt they deserve.
“Just as the Assembly was the first legislative body to appoint a children’s commissioner in the United Kingdom, I want it to be the first to pass a law banning smacking and throwing out the defence of reasonable chastisement. As far as children and physical punishment are concerned, we are still in the dark ages when, in Britain, the ‘rule of thumb’ meant that a husband could assault his wife if the stick he was using was no thicker than his thumb. The term ‘domestic abuse’ should also include the abuse of children. Let us not forget that it was not that long ago that the police would often turn a blind eye to physical assault when it was a ‘domestic incident’. Unless we act now to ban the smacking of children, we can be accused of adopting the same excuse. We can say, ‘Yes, the parent physically assaulted the child, but it was a domestic incident’. That is not on.
“The Welsh Government prides itself on putting children first. Let us see that promise translated into action with regard to the banning of the smacking of children and actively promoting the rights and needs of young carers. We owe it to the children of Wales,” added Mr Whittle.
I have mixed feelings about this. There is a problem that exists where a smacking and slapping are often considered the same and some irresponsible parents over step the mark. But perhaps the issue lies in parental frustration related to deeper social issues and the assembly should concentrate on helping people with good parental skills and tackling those social issues.
I have no issue with a gentle slap as a last resort. However it should be a last resort and it's sad that you should end up at that last resort. Has Lindsey got/had any children? This feels a bit nanny state to me, where else would the assembly go? Set bed times for our children? Dictate what food they eat and what time?
Perhaps they should have a referendum where actual parents can cast their votes at schools when they pick up and drop of children as this should be based on public opinion with those who actually have children, not the opinion of AM's.
Allan is right, surely the Assembly has better things to do than give parental lessons,this type of social control is only a step away from the Nazi ideology of the state and its role in family life.