It’s time for the “Victorian-era punishment” of smacking children to be banned in England as it “undoubtedly harms children’s health”, according to a group representing leading doctors.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has urged for a change in the law, to scrap a defence which allows a parent to hit their child where it is judged “reasonable punishment”.
The group says that those opposing a smacking ban should look at the scientific evidence which shows that it causes physical and emotional damage and “doesn’t benefit them in any way whatsoever”.
Professor Andrew Rowland, a consultant paediatrician and RCPCH officer for child protection, said some 67 countries around the world have already adopted smacking bans, with a further 20 committing to do so.
“That defence of reasonable punishment of children in England has been around since 1860 but, in recent legislation, it was introduced in the Children Act of 2004.
“Now is the time for this Victorian-era punishment to go and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill amendment will do that if passed.”
Scotland became the first part of UK to make smacking children illegal in 2020, Wales outlawed physical punishment of children in 2022. But in England and Northern Ireland punishment is allowed, although what is reasonable depends on each case.
Labour MP Jess Asato, who tabled the amendment, said: “The health impact evidence of assault on children is clear, and that’s why so many other countries, including Scotland and Wales, have now ensured that children have equal protection from assault and battery.”
In December Dame Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner for England, demanded urgent reforms following the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif by her father and stepmother. She said it was “a heartbreaking reminder of the profound weaknesses in our child protection system”.
“What haunts me the most about Sara’s death is that her father used the words ‘I legally punished my child’ believing this to be a defence to murder,” she added.
A poll of 3,500 adults in England carried out by YouGov on behalf of the NSPCC in January 2024 found that 71% think smacking, hitting, slapping, or shaking a child is not acceptable.
Commenting on the effectiveness of smacking, Prof Rowland 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.
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In August 2024, the NSPCC reported that concerns about children being physically punished had more than tripled in a year.
Joanna Barrett, associate head of policy at the charity, said it backs a ban because physical punishment can have a “detrimental impact on a child’s wellbeing” and is “associated with depression, anxiety, increased aggression and anti-social behaviour”.
She added: “Reviews highlight how the law, and the lack of clarity about what is reasonable and what is not, creates difficulties for professionals in assessing and responding to risk.
“Legal change must happen urgently, because right now we know physical punishment remains a part of childhood for too many young people in England.”
School standards minister, Catherine McKinnell, told the Commons in February: “We do not intend to legislate on the defence at this stage” but added they will wait for a review into the impact of a ban implemented in 2022 in Wales.
That study is due to be published by the end of 2025.
She added: “We recognise that parents have different views and approaches to disciplining their children.
“We need to consider their voices, and those of the child, trusted stakeholders and people who might be disproportionately affected by the removal of the defence, in making any decisions.”
Legislation in this area is a devolved matter and it would be up to politicians in Northern Ireland to decide on any reforms.
