What's happened
Following the tragic case of Sara Sharif, calls for a ban on smacking children in England have intensified. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson expressed openness to the idea, while children's charities urge immediate legislative action to protect children from physical punishment, similar to laws in Scotland and Wales.
Why it matters
What the papers say
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, stated on BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that the government is 'considering' a smacking ban but does not plan to legislate soon. This aligns with Dame Rachel de Souza's call for a ban, emphasizing the need for stronger protections for children. The NSPCC has reported a tripling of calls to their helpline regarding concerns about physical punishment, highlighting growing public concern. The Guardian's James Tapper noted that the experiences in Scotland and Wales could inform England's approach, suggesting that the time for action is now. Meanwhile, critics argue that criminalizing smacking may not effectively prevent child abuse, as highlighted in a piece from The Guardian discussing the complexities of parental discipline.
How we got here
The push for a smacking ban in England has gained momentum after the murder trial of Sara Sharif, who suffered severe abuse. Scotland and Wales have already implemented similar bans, prompting renewed discussions in England about child protection laws.
Common question
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The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a charity campaigning and working in child protection in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands.
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Barnardo's is a British charity founded by Thomas John Barnardo in 1866, to care for vulnerable children. As of 2013, it raised and spent around £200 million each year running around 900 local services, aimed at helping these same groups.
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The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, often referred to as the RCPCH, is the professional body for paediatricians in the United Kingdom.
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Dame Rachel Mary de Souza DBE is a British educationalist, and former head teacher. She was the founding chief executive of the Inspiration Trust and served in that role until March 2021, when she took up the post of Children's Commissioner for England.
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Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96 mile border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and w
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Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic Sea to the south-west. As of 2021, it had a population of 3.2 million.
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Bridget Maeve Phillipson is a British Labour Party politician who was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Houghton and Sunderland South.