Smacking ban data on court cases revealed

FEWER than five parents in Wales have been taken to court since the smacking ban came into force three years ago, it has been revealed.

- RUTH MOSALSKI

In March 2022, the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) Act 2020 came into force in Wales which made all physical punishment of children illegal by removing the common law defence of “reasonable punishment’” for parents and carers.

Data from the Welsh Government, released as a result of a report into the law by campaigners, said court action was taken asa last resort in “fewer than five” cases since 2022. We have asked for clarification on the exact number.

A review of the law has been expected from the Welsh Government, and campaigners say they have instead compiled their own report based on data they could obtain from public bodies.

The Welsh Government says its review document will come out next week.

Be Reasonable, a campaign group which opposed the law being introduced, says that since the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) Act 2020 came into force in March 2022:

™@ Hundreds of parents have faced criminal sanctions;

™@ thousands of families have been subjected to social services investigations;

© millions of pounds worth of social workers’ time has been diverted; and

lH despite being legally obliged to monitor implementation, the Welsh Government has failed to collect adequate data from local authorities.