Big backing for ban on smacking

Published on Wednesday 19 May 2004 01:00

MORE than two-thirds of people back a ban on smacking children, according to a survey published today.

The Mori poll found 71 per cent of respondents supported a change in the law to give children the same protection from being hit as adults.

The current law allowing for "reasonable chastisement" dates back to 1860 and means children have less protection from being hit than adults.

The Scottish Parliament has stopped short of an outright ban after a wave of public opposition.

Commenting on the poll, NSPCC chief executive Mary Marsh said: "This shows that the general public supports sensible and fair modernisation of the law to give children equal protection.

"In the 21st century, equal protection must be every child’s right. It is vital that hitting children becomes as socially unacceptable as hitting anyone else, which means modernising the law, as at least ten other European countries have done successfully.

"Children are the weakest and most fragile in our society."

The poll also found that nearly a third - 29 per cent - of people believe children should have more legal protection than adults from being hit.