BMJ  2003;326:1414 (28 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7404.1414-a

News

MPs call for smacking to be outlawed

Zosia Kmietowicz

London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Smacking, even in families, should be made illegal to protect children from abuse, says a report from a cross party group of British MPs.

What happened to Victoria Climbié began with "little slaps"

PA

The health select committee has called the "reasonable chastisement" that parents and carers use to defend actions of physical punishment on children as "increasingly anomalous," saying that the law as it currently stands can hinder the prosecution of child abuse cases.

In a report into whether changes recommended in the Laming inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié can protect children from abuse (8 February, pp 293-4), the committee has urged the government to use the forthcoming green paper on children at risk to make the law clearer.

"One country from which we believe much can be learned is Sweden, and in this regard we note that that country has outlawed physical punishment of children, . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Child protection---lessons from Victoria Climbié
David Hall
BMJ 2003 326: 293-294. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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