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MNHQ

We need your thoughts for BBC Breakfast...

54 replies

CatherineMumsnet · 09/04/2008 14:43

Hi all, the lovely Carrie has been called to the sofa on BBC Breakfast tomorrow morning to talk about this news article and we wanted to get your thoughts on smacking. Is it something you would never do or do you think this couple were treated unfairly?

OP posts:
MNHQ
CatherineMumsnet · 09/04/2008 14:57

Thanks cornsilk, I think the discussion point is definitely the impact of smacking, and whether it's something the majority of parents do anymore?

OP posts:
BetteNoir · 09/04/2008 14:56

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1372/510493?stamp=080409145458

gomez · 09/04/2008 14:55

Children in care cannot be subject to physical punishment - that is illegal. If this couple believe such punishment is correct then from a risk management perspective, even if they gave assurances they wouldn't, the Council are obliged to think about this possible breach of law.

Also the UK is in breach of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child for keeping the 'reasonable chastisment' offence and have been criticised for this as recently as 2006 - it also breaches a couple of other UN treaties which we have ratified.

The Council of Europe have also urged the UK to ban physical punishment of children. Seminal case from the European COurt of Human Rights (A v. UK 1998) did not outlaw physical punishment as such but recent comment from both the ECHR and the Committee of Ministers suggests a new case would be decided differently.

So think Council playing safe - and couple over reacting - don't think thousands of damaged children will in fact be denied a home. Also perhaps said damaged children would be better of not witnessing physical punishment of the couple's natural child either.

cornsilk · 09/04/2008 14:55

So the worry is that a foster child might witness their birth child being smacked rather than they would smack a foster child?
I agree that a child in foster care shouldn't be exposed to smacking.