Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • North Wales on Screen: Welsh TV Locations To Visit
    • REVIEW: The Lost Boys
    • Top 3: Books from Ireland
    • How Yoga Can Help Reduce Stress
    • I Tried a Virtual Bra Fitting, And This is What I Thought …
    • I Tried the Popular Ketogenic Diet: Here’s What Happened…
    • Toxic Diet culture
    • #DanceYourPhD- Scientists explain their thesis through interpretive dance
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      A guide to the recent Dutch elections

      April 8, 2021

      FCA warning : Young Investors at Risk

      April 5, 2021

      What?! Bangor University burned down two weeks ago?!

      April 1, 2021
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      North Wales on Screen: Welsh TV Locations To Visit

      April 11, 2021

      REVIEW: The Lost Boys

      April 11, 2021

      Top 3: Books from Ireland

      April 10, 2021
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      How Yoga Can Help Reduce Stress

      April 9, 2021

      I Tried a Virtual Bra Fitting, And This is What I Thought …

      April 9, 2021

      I Tried the Popular Ketogenic Diet: Here’s What Happened…

      April 9, 2021
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      #DanceYourPhD- Scientists explain their thesis through interpretive dance

      April 8, 2021

      A guide to the recent Dutch elections

      April 8, 2021

      The Origins of Easter

      April 4, 2021
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      Formula 1’s ‘Drive to Survive S3’ is released

      April 7, 2021

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      March 23, 2021

      Marcus Rashford named on The Times Next 100 List

      March 4, 2021
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Bangor University Feminist Society

      March 30, 2021

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      March 17, 2021

      LGBT History Month in Bangor

      March 4, 2021
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»News & Politics»Politics»Welsh parents who smack their kids could lose their jobs if new law passes
    Politics

    Welsh parents who smack their kids could lose their jobs if new law passes

    Beth ThurlowBy Beth ThurlowMarch 2, 2020Updated:February 28, 2020No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    A letter sent to an MP by a MoJ minister outlines what a new Welsh Government bill would mean in practice; Welsh parents could lose their jobs for smacking their kids if the new law is implemented, a letter from the Ministry of Justice has warned. If a Welsh Government bill to outlaw reasonable chastisement passes, parents suspected of smacking their children will face police investigations. The news was confirmed in a letter sent by an MoJ minister to David TC Davies, the MP for Monmouth, at the end of last year. It also confirms that information about parents who smack their kids will be recorded by police and could appear on a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
    The letter says, “…if the law changes and the police receive a report or a complaint that a child has been physically punished by an adult, they will investigate that report and decide what action to take, if any, based on the facts”. The letter adds, “Convictions will always show on police records. Wales’ child smacking ban could soon be made law – but the authorities aren’t ready for it, say campaigners.
    “Whether they appear on DBS checks will depend on the type of check the person is applying for; whether their conviction is spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act; and whether their conviction is eligible to be filtered from standard or enhanced DBS certificates…”. A spokeswoman for the MoJ said it is aware of the letter that outlines what the new bill would mean in practice, but as it is Welsh Assembly legislation, the MoJ would not comment on the matter.
    Jamie Gillies of the Be Reasonable campaign, which opposes plans to make parental smacking a crime, said the new law would be “highly detrimental to the family home”. He said, “’The letter confirms that loving parents will be investigated by the police for smacking and could be cautioned, and even prosecuted’. ‘Information will be seen on DBS checks by employers with potentially career-ending implications if the parent in question is say a doctor, a nurse, a teacher or a care worker, Welsh parents could lose their jobs for smacking their kids if the new law is implemented. ‘Does the Government really want this for parents in Wales?’ ‘The stress and turmoil of police investigations and even criminal convictions, simply because they have used mild physical discipline?’ ‘That would be highly detrimental to the family home’.”
    The news comes as politicians and members of the Welsh Assembly vote on the Government’s bill in the final Stage 3 and Stage 4 debates on January 28. It also follows the publication of a survey of Welsh councillors, which revealed huge opposition to a smacking ban. More than seven in 10 opposed a ban, and nine in 10 said that councils do not have the resources to cope with one. The survey, covering more than 200 councillors across the political spectrum, found that eight in 10 respondents support the freedom of parents to use reasonable chastisement, and seven in 10 did not think smacking should be a criminal offence.
    Mr Gillies added, “Many councillors seem aghast at the prospect of a smacking ban which would tie up social workers, deplete local authority resources and affect services for years to come when there is no reliable evidence to show that mild physical discipline is harmful to children.”

    kids law
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Beth Thurlow

    Politics Editor | 19-20

    Related Posts

    Has lockdown in halls caused a mental health crisis among students?

    February 8, 2021

    INTERVIEW: Kirsty Williams, Welsh Minister of Education – Cuts and Covid in Welsh Universities

    October 5, 2020

    UK Government rejects recommendation to refund dissatisfied university students

    September 28, 2020

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Related/Similar Articles
    • Plans to Ease Lockdown Over Christmas Axed Across Wales
      Plans to Ease Lockdown Over Christmas Axed Across Wales
      December 19, 2020
    • Being Single on Valentine’s Day
      Being Single on Valentine’s Day
      February 12, 2021
    • REVIEW: Chwarae
      REVIEW: Chwarae
      December 9, 2020
    • Update on COVID cases, statistics, and restrictions in Wales
      Update on COVID cases, statistics, and restrictions in Wales
      February 16, 2021
    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.