8 July 2007 - people.co.uk - EXCLUSIVE: SMACKING PARENTS WON'T FACE PRISON

8 July 2007 - people.co.uk - EXCLUSIVE: SMACKING PARENTS WON'T FACE PRISON

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=smacking-parents-won-t-face-prison--&method=full&objectid=19423641&siteid=93463-name_page.html


EXCLUSIVE: SMACKING PARENTS WON'T FACE PRISON
EXCLUSIVE Human rights 'farce' faces axe
By Nigel Nelson
PARENTS who smack their children are likely to be spared the threat of jail under a Government rethink.

Mums and dads currently face up to five years in prison if they bruise or graze kids.

But outraged parents say the penalties - brought in two years ago under European human rights laws - are too tough.

They want the courts to distinguish between disciplining naughty kids and child abuse. Now the Government is to ask parents' views over the summer after other surveys showed that two-thirds are in favour of disciplinary smacking. Tory children's minister Tim Loughton said: "The present law is unworkable nonsense - it just criminalises parents.

"We need to clearly define the line between chastisement by parents as they see fit and violence towards children." The current law allows "reasonable chastisement" but if a mark is made that could be treated as actual bodily harm.

Critics say that fails to recognise the difference between responsible parents and those who beat their kids black and blue.


The results of the Government survey will be announced by Schools Minister Andrew Adonis in the autumn when a law change will be considered.


Child protection organisations who want an outright ban on smacking will also be consulted.....