The defence of ‘reasonable punishement’ currently exists in English law and in the Children Act 2004.
Children in England and Northern Ireland are the only people in the UK that are not fully protected in law from the assault.
Scotland was the first country in the UK to to ban smacking in 2020, giving children the same protection against assault as adults. Wales followed their lead in 2022.
The Government in Westminster has confirmed it will review the evidence from Scotland and Wales before making a decision on the law, but the Commissioners are calling for urgent action now. They believe the Children and Wellbeing Bill provides an opportunity to do so.
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