It is hugely disappointing that there are moves within the Scottish Parliament to reject plans to ban the smacking of children under three, bowing to pressure from parents apparently worried that more criminal prosecutions will result (see News, page 9). The proposal to make physical punishment of the youngest children illegal was a brave yet utterly justified move. Time and again, it has been proved in other countries that changing the law in tandem with parental education works, that it does not result in criminalising 'ordinary' parents, and that public opinion can be changed over time to support anti-smacking regulations. Sweden, Finland, Cyprus and Germany are just some that have banned smacking for the better of their societies.
It is hugely disappointing that there are moves within the Scottish Parliament to reject plans to ban the smacking of children under three, bowing to pressure from parents apparently worried that more criminal prosecutions will result (see News, page 9).
The proposal to make physical punishment of the youngest children illegal was a brave yet utterly justified move. Time and again, it has been proved in other countries that changing the law in tandem with parental education works, that it does not result in criminalising 'ordinary' parents, and that public opinion can be changed over time to support anti-smacking regulations. Sweden, Finland, Cyprus and Germany are just some that have banned smacking for the better of their societies.
There is no excuse for continuing to sanction hitting babies and toddlers.
The Scottish Parliament had a great opportunity to make a stand and show the way for the rest of the UK. There is more debate to come and child safety campaigners will continue to press their case. However, the possibility that smacking of under-threes will be outlawed in the near future seems slim. Let us hope the proposal survives for the good of all our children.
