Hitting children makes them more aggressive—why is it legal in the UK?

Hitting children remains legal under UK law despite being forbidden in 24 other European countries. New research that involved over 160,000 children suggests that smacking has long-term consequences on the mental wellbeing of children. Raymond Arthur, Professor of Law at Northumbria University calls time on physical punishments and argues that Britain should follow its European counterparts in outlawing an outdated practice.

It might be seen by some as one of the ultimate parenting taboos – to admit that you smack your child. Yet research from the Children’s Society reveals just 14% of adults think slapping children is unacceptable. It’s clear then that a lot of parents still see the odd smack as an acceptable form of punishment – for when all other methods of discipline have failed.

Many parents rationalise this type of punishment with the fact they too were smacked as a child and claim it didn’t do them any harm. But did it?

"The United Nations has urged the UK government to change"

Recently, researchers in the US examined over 50 years’ of research involving more than 160,000 children and concluded that smacking children does, in fact, cause more harm than good. The researchers found smacking often “does the opposite” of what parents want and rarely results in immediate increased compliance by children. It was also shown that children who are smacked are more likely to exhibit higher levels of aggression and mental health problems as they grow up.

Smacking and the law

It is legal for a parent or carer to hit their own child in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as a form of “reasonable punishment”. This is despite the fact that current laws prohibit adults from smacking, pushing or shoving other adults – and also protect pets from violence.

Under the Children Act 2004, parents can smack their children provided it does not cause bruising, scratching or reddening of the skin. In this sense, the law limits the use of physical punishment - but it also sends out a dangerous message that it is legally acceptable to assault a child.

"Just 14% of adults think slapping children is unacceptable"

This is at odds with many of our European neighbours – 24 European countries have abolished parents’ right to use any form of physical punishment. And yet unlike Austria, Croatia, Denmark or Norway, in the UK parents can still smack or hit as a form of punishment.

Police, lawyers and prosecutors have the difficult task of deciding when hitting is hurting a child – both physically and mentally. The visibility of bruising is often used as a test of whether a smack has been too hard. But this is ineffective as different children have differently coloured skin and bruise in different ways. The current law also leaves things vague for parents, and makes it hard for them to know what degree of force (if any) is okay to use.

Lasting consequences

An outright ban on physical punishment across the whole of the UK would be much easier to police. And it would also be consistent with the country’s obligation under international law that children must be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence.

Technically, the fact that children can still be punished using physical and mental violence is in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is something the United Nations has urged the UK government to change – encouraging the country to promote positive, participatory and non-violent forms of discipline and respect for a child’s equal rights to human dignity and physical integrity.

Although at the time smacking can seem like a quick fix, it is clear it has long-lasting consequences. As the latest research shows, discipline involving the infliction of violence can be damaging to a child – both physically and emotionally. It is clear then that the legal acceptance of beating children must end, thereby putting the child in exactly the same position as adults and pets in respect of the law.

The Conversation Ultimately, a ban on smacking would not only provide children with greater protection, but would also let parents know clearly what is and isn’t acceptable when it comes to disciplining a child. But beyond all this, it would also help children to grow up happier and healthier – and what can possibly be more important than that?