The Scottish Government is backing a Bill to make it a criminal offence for a parent to smack their own child. Those who support this change misrepresent a controlled smack by a loving parent as equivalent to child abuse.
References
- 1 Lindhurst, G, ‘Unequal Protection of Children?’, Scottish Legal News: Annual Review 2018, pages 26-27
- 2 BBC News online, 15 April 2017, see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-39608086 as at 27 November 2018
- 3 ITV Border tweet, 6 September 2017, see https://twitter.com/ITVBorderRB/status/905483353490640896 as at 28 November 2018
- 4 Larzelere, R E, Swindle, T, Johnson, B R, ‘Swedish Trends in Assaults Against Minors Since Banning Spanking, 1981-2010’, International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 2013(2), pages 129-137
- 5 Loc cit
- 6 The Times, 13 February 2014
- 7 Legal analysis of section 59 Crimes Act – the anti-smacking legislation – Update of previous opinion, Chen Palmer New Zealand Public and Employment Law Specialists, 17 January 2018; see also ‘Parents Criminalised Under New Zealand Smacking Ban, Top Law Firm Finds’, Be Reasonable Wales, 22 February 2018, see https://www.bereasonable.wales/parents-criminalised-new-zealand-smacking-ban-top-law-firm-finds/ as at 27 November 2018
