A child's psychologist from Stamford says smacking children can have a detrimental impact
Child health experts are calling for a total ban on smacking in England
A child's psychologist from Stamford says there's never a need to smack children.
Child health experts are calling for a total ban on smacking in England, like there is in Wales and Scotland.
It has a detrimental effect on them
According to the Children Act 2004, it is unlawful to hit your child, except where it is "reasonable punishment".
Julie Griffin, a psychotherapist who specialises in young people, said:
"It should be banned. It's not necessary. It's done as an anger response usually, and that's not healthy."
"It's not just the harm of smacking the child; it's the harm around it as well."
"It has long-term effects on children. Children don't forget; it sits with them for future relationships, for their own emotional health, and the way they react to others."
"It has a detrimental effect on them."
"If you don't give boundaries, then young people don't feel safe."
"So some form of that is required but not physical. That can be done in different ways."
It's not necessary and it should be banned
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said smacking children should be consigned to the history books.
Now the College is calling for an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which would remove the "reasonable punishment" defence from law in England.
Professor Andrew Rowland, a consultant paediatrician and RCPCH officer for child protection, said:
"The best scientific evidence I've got is that physical punishment of children undoubtedly harms children's health on a population basis."
"It harms their physical health, places them at increased risk of serious physical assault, it harms their mental health and it harms their emotional health and their wellbeing - all of that is shown in robust scientific evidence."
"There have been no robust scientific studies that have shown that physical punishment of children has any positive effect."
"So it's not just that the use of it harms children, it also doesn't benefit them in any way whatsoever."