Leading child health experts have intensified calls for a complete ban on smacking children in England, arguing that physical punishment offers no benefits to children’s wellbeing.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has urged lawmakers to remove the legal defence of “reasonable punishment,” which currently allows parents to smack their children under certain circumstances.
The push for a ban comes as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, proposed by Labour MP Jess Asato in January, progresses through Parliament.
If the amendment garners enough support, it would effectively outlaw the defence of smacking in England. The RCPCH’s officer for child protection, Prof Andrew Rowland, described the practice as a “Victorian-era punishment” that must end.
“Now is the time for this Victorian-era punishment to go,” Prof Rowland stated, emphasizing that no scientific studies support smacking as beneficial to children’s health.
He added that research indicates physical punishment can harm children, increasing their risk of serious physical assault.
Joanna Barrett from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) echoed this sentiment, linking smacking to depression, anxiety, increased aggression, and antisocial behaviour.
England’s current legal stance on smacking is outlined in the Children Act of 2004, which permits it under the “reasonable punishment” defence.
This contrasts with Scotland and Wales, where all forms of corporal punishment have been illegal since 2020 and 2022, respectively. Prof Rowland noted that 67 countries globally have already banned smacking, with 20 more committing to do so.
The Department for Education, however, has dismissed the prospect of a ban, stating it has “no plans to change the law on smacking.”
A spokesperson highlighted that the current bill represents the “single biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation,” focusing on reforms to the children’s social care system.
The government added that it is “looking closely” at the impact of bans in Scotland and Wales but remains non-committal.
The calls for reform have gained momentum following the tragic death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif in August 2023, who was murdered after prolonged abuse by her father and stepmother. Her father, who fled to Pakistan, had claimed to police that he had “legally punished” Sara before her death.
Prof Rowland argued that a complete ban would simplify legal boundaries, ensuring that physical punishment is never deemed acceptable under any circumstance.
Public opinion appears divided. At a baby sensory group in Sale, Greater Manchester, parents expressed mixed feelings.
Leanne Casey, a mother, stated that while parents should have the right to discipline their children, she would support a ban if it ensured children’s safety.
Another parent, Oli Harrison, suggested that clear legislation would eliminate the “grey area” surrounding smacking.
Lynn Perry, chief executive of Barnardo’s children’s charity, emphasized the urgency of the ban, arguing that “no violence against children is acceptable.”
She pointed out the inconsistency that children face less legal protection against physical assault than adults, calling for immediate legislative action.
As the debate continues, proponents of the ban argue that a clear, outright prohibition would send a strong message that any form of physical punishment against children is unacceptable in modern society.
