Wales has made any type of corporal punishment on children illegal, including hitting, smacking, slapping, and shaking.

Joining 63 nations in banning the physical punishment of children marked the end of common law defense of ‘reasonable punishment’ of young ones. Now children and adults in Wales will have the same security from assault. The law will apply to everyone, and also to all visitors visiting wales.

The change in law was bought in under the children *Abolition of defense of reasonable punishment) (Wales) act 2020. The law is relevant to anyone and everyone who has the responsibility of taking care of a child including parents, guardians, and teachers.

What does the smacking ban law mean?

-       All forms of physical punishment are prohibited in Wales

-       It offers children the same protection from assault as adults

-       It makes the law easy to understand for children, guardians, professionals, and everyone else

Is the law applicable to everyone?

-       Yes, the law applies to everyone residing in Wales.

-       Visitors/ tourists will not be allowed to smack children when in Wales

-       Physical punishment has been banned in schools, homes, foster care homes, and daycares.

Welsh first minister Mark drake ford said: “  “The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child makes it clear that children have the right to be protected from harm and from being hurt and this includes physical punishment.

“That right is now enshrined in Welsh law. No more grey areas. No more ‘ defense of reasonable punishment’. That is all in the past.”

Anyone who physically assaults a child, be it through slapping, smacking, shaking and hitting or any other form of  physical punishment will be :

-       Breaking the law

-       Risks being arrested

-       Risks of being charged with assault

-       May get a criminal record

Scotland had already introduced the law in November 2020 and Wales in the second UK nation to bring it in. The Welsh statute abolishes a 160-year-old legal defense for parents of reasonable punishment and provides youngsters the same protection from assault as grown-ups meaning all types of physical punishment will be unlawful.

Would England follow suit soon?

There are currently no such plans in line for England to follow suit. Smacking a child technically remains unlawful in England, but is allowed as long as it constitutes “ reasonable punishment”

According to Child Law Advice: "It is unlawful for a parent to smack their child, except where this sums to ‘reasonable punishment’. This defense is laid down in section 58 Children Act 2004, but it is not defined in this legislation. The Westminster Government believes parents would be wrongly criminalized by making smacking illegal which already penalizes violent parents.

However, we at busy kiddies childcare agency are against all forms of physical punishment of children to give you 100% peace of mind that you have made the right decision for your little one.