Smacking Children Aganist The Law

Smacking  children will shortly be banned in Scotland, the Scottish Government has just confirmed.

Ministers have announced they will ensure that a Bill brought forward by Green MSP John Finnie would become a new law.
The legislation will remove the defence of ”justifiable assault” in Scots law, which allows parents to use physical punishment to discipline a child.
The move will make Scotland the very first part of the United Kingdom to introduce a ban on the smacking of children.

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Scottish Labour announced earlier this week it would also support the bill as “the right thing to do”.

A spokesman said:

“Giving children equal protection against assault will send a clear message to all of us about how we treat each other and underpin Scotland’s efforts to reduce violence”.
“The physical punishment of children is already illegal in 52 countries and the proposal will give children in Scotland the necessary protections to flourish in a healthy environment and encourage the building of stronger relationships between children, their parents and others who care for them.”

“The NSPCC has long campaigned for children to have the same protection against assault as adults and we strongly believe a change in the law would be a common-sense move.”