The new smacking controversy

A politician has called for the laws on smacking to be relaxed, while the NSPCC maintains it should be banned altogether. Who’s right? 

One subject bound to get parents talking is smacking. In England, The Children Act 2004 says parents are allowed to smack their offspring as long as they don’t cause ‘reddening of the skin’. Any hitting that causes bruising, swelling, cuts, grazes or scratches can result in five years in jail. 

Many campaigners have long called for a total ban. “We believe very strongly there are alternatives to smacking that are much more effective,” says Chris Cloke, head of child protection awareness at NSPCC.

But politician David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, wants the laws to be relaxed and believes the government shouldn’t impose on how parents discipline their children. “It’s up to parents to determine the way they want to help their children navigate boundaries and how they define right and wrong,” he says.

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Published in Practical Parenting & Pregnancy UK. Copyright Immediate Media.