We need to make it illegal to hit children

[Poetrypatty]

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.

2004 the law was changed on it. With definitions it wasn't none at all. I posted the text upthread s bit.

All the posters saying it's not illegal to hit children I assume they thinking certain types of hitting? Not hitting full stop I mean obviously. It's not at all legal to eg punch a child in the face and hasn't been for yonks.

Given the murder this thread is prompted by, I hope no posters think the level of violence used against this child was not against the law.

Some kids are wild though, we have a group of over 12s terrorising elderly neighbours throwing eggs at their houses every single night. it shouldnt be illegal to give them a good swift kick up the arse, their neglectful parents need an even harder kick up the arse too.

@Annoymouser2

Some kids are wild though, we have a group of over 12s terrorising elderly neighbours throwing eggs at their houses every single night. it shouldnt be illegal to give them a good swift kick up the arse, their neglectful parents need an even harder kick up the arse too.

Some adults are wild. Terrorising people, raping, murdering. It’s still illegal to “kick them up the arse”

I do realise what ive typed, seriously do you have to repeat it.
Adults get jail, smug teenage bullies know the laws on their side and get away with it

@Annoymouser2

Some kids are wild though, we have a group of over 12s terrorising elderly neighbours throwing eggs at their houses every single night. it shouldnt be illegal to give them a good swift kick up the arse, their neglectful parents need an even harder kick up the arse too.

And you think ‘violence’ is the solution to this?

@Annoymouser2

Some kids are wild though, we have a group of over 12s terrorising elderly neighbours throwing eggs at their houses every single night. it shouldnt be illegal to give them a good swift kick up the arse, their neglectful parents need an even harder kick up the arse too.

So who do you propose gives them a “swift kick up there arse”? Are you volunteering?

And what will you do when they retaliate and punch you in the face for assaulting them?

Never been hounded in your own your home by feral kids, egging your home, smashing your windows. I havent but i remember fiona and francesca pilkington case.
Id love to see them punch me in the face, punch them back then punch their neglectful parents too.

No of course it won’t completely end all child abuse, but it will certainly make it easier to safeguard children by members of the public, people working with children and social workers all having a very clear definition of what is and isn’t acceptable.

If you see a parent in public with a child who is misbehaving and the parent hits them, what would you do? Nothing, I’m guessing. It’s perfectly legal and by itself wouldn’t constitute any form of investigation. If it was illegal, it would be more likely to be looked into.

Not to mention it also means parents are less likely to do it, and more ill informed parents who are not aware of normal child development and preserving their emotional and social well-being will have a clear boundary of what is and isn’t OK. Something being legal very much gives people the impression it is acceptable.

There is definitely a question mark on what makes an effective deterant and way to manage teenage behaviour (beyond the usual teen stuff, I mean on the side of criminality)- but I don't see how them growing up in a household where violence is common place and seeing it as a typical punishment will really help. What does smacking really achieve? Physically its over in a few seconds (although of course mentally can last longer), I suspect most cases it's adults who respond without thinking or without much constraint and can't deal with the situation any other way, any guesses where they are likely to have learnt that growing up?

I also agree. I agree also it won’t stamp out child abuse, of course it won’t, little Arthur’s murderers for example will have known full well what they were doing was illegal, as would anyone else who murders and tortures a child, but I wholly agree hitting a child should be illegal and assault like it is an adult.

@VladmirsPoutine

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.

Yes, this is very true.

It would also make it easier to deal with in family court.

@Annoymouser2

Never been hounded in your own your home by feral kids, egging your home, smashing your windows. I havent but i remember fiona and francesca pilkington case. Id love to see them punch me in the face, punch them back then punch their neglectful parents too.

Jesus.

@Annoymouser2

Never been hounded in your own your home by feral kids, egging your home, smashing your windows. I havent but i remember fiona and francesca pilkington case. Id love to see them punch me in the face, punch them back then punch their neglectful parents too.

You sound like a violent thug.

I agree- at least people know where they stand. The current law is very vague, odd and unhelpful. How can you assess when smacking anyone whether it will leave a mark or not?

We do need more support for parents however. In the ‘olden days’ smacking was seen as acceptable and a solution to bad behaviour. Some children have behaviour problems for many different reasons and the support isn’t there currently for parents and children in how to deal with it. For some children the ‘naughty step’ and reward chart techniques just won’t work. So there does need to be more practical help and support for those whose children illustrate behavioural problems. My 3 children have been on the ASD pathway for a long time- the behaviour at times can be extremely challenging. I wouldn’t dream of ever smacking them but at times it can be very hard and I’ve had NOTHING when it comes to practical support in dealing with any of the problems associated with autism.

@Annoymouser2

I do realise what ive typed, seriously do you have to repeat it. Adults get jail, smug teenage bullies know the laws on their side and get away with it

Yes I had to repeat it because that is how the quote function works. Are you uncomfortable seeing your own words repeated?

Do you really think a “kick in the arse” will sort out those teens? How ignorant.

Completely behind this. It'll make more people realise now that hitting a child is wrong and future generations then hopefully won't think twice about doing it.

I couldn't believe it when I brought up the subject at work and two men (one mid 40s one late 60s) acted like I was mad saying I would never hit my future children. The older one was saying how 'kids these days get away with everything' as though people are too 'soft'. It's a case of not knowing how to parent imo using violence as a form of discipline. I was saying I would never hit my husband or anyone else in my family, so why would I hit my child? But sadly people like that are so set in their ways that they'd just think the law against it is ridiculous. Hopefully their own children know better from experiencing it first hand. I do think future generations will be different though.

Since recently having a baby I feel even more strongly about all this. I could never ever hurt him, and I really don't understand how people can have it in them to be violent or aggressive to such a vulnerable person that doesn't understand how the world works yet.

@Annoymouser2

Never been hounded in your own your home by feral kids, egging your home, smashing your windows. I havent but i remember fiona and francesca pilkington case. Id love to see them punch me in the face, punch them back then punch their neglectful parents too.

But those kids aren't like that because they didn't get smacked... they're probably neglected and have no idea about boundaries