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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

We need to make it illegal to hit children

118 replies

Poetrypatty · 05/12/2021 14:07

AIBU to think this should be done ASAP. I'm so annoyed that in our country it's still legal. It's not legal to hit adults. It just seems plain wrong to me.

OP posts:
JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 05/12/2021 14:09

It's been made illegal in Wales next march and I completely agree with it.

AlphabetAerobics · 05/12/2021 14:12

It’s illegal in Scotland and therefore magically we have no child abuse. Hmm

shouldistop · 05/12/2021 14:14

@AlphabetAerobics

It’s illegal in Scotland and therefore magically we have no child abuse. Hmm
^ this
AliveAndSleeping · 05/12/2021 14:14

Yanbu. I totally agree. It's incredible that it's legal to hit a child, one of the weakest and most vulnerable members of society.

x2boys · 05/12/2021 14:15

What do you think it will achieve Op?
Do you think abusive parents will suddenly no be abusive ?

Shitzngiggles · 05/12/2021 14:15

Very naive of me I know, but I thought it was already illegal. I've never understood why some people think it's ok to hit or assault our most vulnerable members of society.

HangingDitch · 05/12/2021 14:15

I agree but it’s not going to stop child abuse.

pigsDOfly · 05/12/2021 14:15

Yes, of course it should be illegal but it's not going to stop children being abused and killed.

Missmissmiiiiiiiiisss · 05/12/2021 14:17

I don’t think it would help really. Parents are already not allowed to hit a child in a way that leaves any kind of mark, so if there is ‘proof’ of the hitting it becomes illegal. If there is no proof (ie no bruise or red mark) then how would they be sure a parent hit a child anyway?
It’s socially unacceptable so it’s not generally happening out and about.
I think we would be better off looking at the factors that lead people to not coping, free parenting classes and better funding for sure start, social services and early help.

Missmissmiiiiiiiiisss · 05/12/2021 14:18

Of course some people are beyond help (which is why we need to ensure social services are properly funded)

dreamingbohemian · 05/12/2021 14:19

@HangingDitch

I agree but it’s not going to stop child abuse.
So let's get rid of the laws against assaulting adults then. I mean people still hit other adults so clearly no point having laws against it Hmm

I agree OP. It would not end abuse but it would make it easier to bring charges against violent parents.

Kanaloa · 05/12/2021 14:19

Well it should be illegal so there is no leeway - you see plenty of people on mumsnet insisting that it is ‘just a sharp shock’ or ‘a tap’ and therefore acceptable. But that’s where there comes a grey area of acceptable hitting where it’s harder to report someone.

I don’t think it would stop all child abuse but it wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

inmyslippers · 05/12/2021 14:19

I don't think it will stop those that do. but atleast if they're reported there will be repercussions

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 05/12/2021 14:20

@AlphabetAerobics

It’s illegal in Scotland and therefore magically we have no child abuse. Hmm
What a stupid response.
Newmumatlast · 05/12/2021 14:20

@x2boys

What do you think it will achieve Op? Do you think abusive parents will suddenly no be abusive ?
But it will be much clearer. No hit is OK. So a child mentions corporal punishment and it isnt dismissed.
TheVolturi · 05/12/2021 14:21

Well drugs, prostitution and rape are illegal but they still happen.

MaskingForIt · 05/12/2021 14:21

It already is in Scotland, and will soon be in Wales. England are behind the curve as normal.

As others have said though, it won’t magically stop child abuse though.

Pumperthepumper · 05/12/2021 14:22

It’s already illegal in Scotland, and I’m 100% behind it. Adults assaulting children is something everyone should be appalled by.

Dryshampoofordays · 05/12/2021 14:22

I agree it should be illegal. In terms of what it would achieve I agree it’s not a magic fix for abuse, however It would definitely be a positive step to help protect children from adults who think smacking them is justified “it never did me any harm” etc. Make it clear that there are no grey areas, smacking, slapping, hitting all constitute physical abuse and should be punishable by law.

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 05/12/2021 14:22

@TheVolturi

Well drugs, prostitution and rape are illegal but they still happen.
Ahh so we might as well legalise them all, yeah? What else still happens that we should just legalise? Murder?
VladmirsPoutine · 05/12/2021 14:22

I agree OP. It would not end abuse but it would make it easier to bring charges against violent parents.

This is really the short and long of it.

Pumperthepumper · 05/12/2021 14:24

And also, it makes it socially unacceptable to hit children.

DirectionToPerfection · 05/12/2021 14:25

I don't think anybody expects it to stop child abuse, but it's important that the law recognises hitting a child as a form of assault. It enhances protection for children, and it may make people more likely to report abusive behaviour that they witness.

AliveAndSleeping · 05/12/2021 14:25

@x2boys

What do you think it will achieve Op? Do you think abusive parents will suddenly no be abusive ?
No it will not root out child abuse but it will
  1. Send a message to society that hitting, smacking, etc is not ok or acceptable or a valuable d form of disciplining a child
  1. Give the authorities more powers to deal with early warning signs
  1. Reduce violence in households that aren't abusive (if that isn't an oxymoron).
RedWingBoots · 05/12/2021 14:26

@Missmissmiiiiiiiiisss it would help because it would flag up more parents who need help and those who charges can be brought against.