Parents in Wales will be banned from smacking their children after Assembly Members voted to approve a new law.

In a vote held in the Senedd on Tuesday, January 28, AMs voted 36 to 14 to approve the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill.

The ban is set to be introduced in 2022. The Welsh Government said that Wales will join around 58 nations, including Scotland, that has banned the physical punishment of children.

An “extensive” awareness campaign will run throughout Wales to inform the public.

The Bill was championed and led by Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services Julie Morgan, a long-time campaigner for children’s rights and an end to the physical punishment of children.

Mrs Morgan said: “Physical punishment has no place here in Wales – there is no such thing as a loving smack and no justifiable reason for a big person to hit a little person. I’m delighted we have voted to change the law to help protect our children and future generations.

“Independent research suggests attitudes to the physical punishment of children are changing – 81% of parents and guardians of young children in Wales disagreed that smacking a naughty child was necessary and 58% of adults in Wales believe it is already against the law to physically punish children.”

The ban was voted for with support from Labour and Plaid Cymru AMs but was opposed by some Conservative and the Brexit Party members.

Conservative AM Janet Finch-Saunders warned of “far-reaching consequences” and said: “With this bill the state is now stepping into the private lives of families.”

People prosecuted for common assault can argue a defence of “reasonable punishment”. The Bill agreed by AMs removes this defence.

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Professor Sally Holland, welcomed the vote.

She said: “The change in law will bring clarity for parents, professionals and children that physically punishing a child is not acceptable in Wales.”