By Wales becomes second UK nation to ban smacking children
Under new laws, Wales will become the second UK nation to legally ban smacking children.
It joins more than 60 nations worldwide to enforce the law and criminalise parents who physically punish their children.
As of today any type of corporal punishment – including smacking, hitting, slapping and shaking – is illegal, meaning both children and adults will have the same level of protection in incidents of physical assault.
Smacking a child was previously considered unlawful, but was allowed if it constituted “reasonable punishment”.
This is still the case in England and Northern Ireland.
Viv Laing, from NSPCC Cymru Wales, said: “Until now, children were the only group in our society who it was acceptable to strike in certain circumstances.
“We don’t allow the physical punishment of adults or animals, so it is absurd that we have for so long with children.
“NSPCC Cymru/Wales has long been clear on this, and now, at last, the law is too.”
