Smacking children should be banned across the UK, says Norwood manager

Smacking children should be banned across the UK, says a senior Norwood manager.

The leading charity’s work and family support manager April Esteras said today that she would “absolutely” support a smacking ban across the UK.

“I would be in favour of the smacking ban, as would the social work profession as a whole,” she told Jewish News.

The Scottish Parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of a bill making it a criminal offence for parents to slap their children by 84 votes to 29 on Thursday.

The bill, introduced by ex police officer Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie, will give children in Scotland the same legal protection from assault as adults. 

Before the law change, parents were allowed to use “reasonable chastisement” or “justifiable assault” to discipline their children.

Critics of the law, which include the Scottish Conservative Party, say it is too strict and will do little to protect vulnerable children. 

Campaign group Be Reasonable Scotland said the ban carries risks “to family life, social work and the police” and could “end up doing far more harm than good.”