In my desk draw at work is a manual for laws regarding laying cones at roadworks.....it's 119 pages long, and some of it can make your eyes spin in their sockets. To assume any law or legal definition is black and white is simply to not understand it.
Common assault is split in 2 for charging purposes. Simple common assault can actually be just verbal abuse no physical touching the second part is Common assault by beating Ie the victim is hit. As for lawful Chastisement that is a defence to assault.If the punishment meted out to the child resulted in bruising as opposed to red marks or even cuts from a ring then that amounts to a S47 assault and Lawful Chastisement would not be an acceptable defence nor would it be to a GBH/Wounding offenceIn other words smack your child and for some reason the authorities get involved. they will examine the circumstances and decide if it was reasonable in the circumstances. If they decide that a defence of Lawful Chastisement is likely to succeed then no further action would be taken. If not you would be away to court for a Magistrate to decide. No Jury of your fellow peers as Common Assault is only triable in a Magistrates court
I was smacked as a child for doing things that I knew to be wrong... If I didn't, I was told. I quickly learnt my lessons. The worst, was when I told my mum to fuck off as a boy. I think I knew what it meant, but I heard it from someone, can't remember. Anyway, my mum grabbed my by the scruff, dragged me into the kitchen, shoved a bar of soap in my gob and held my mouth shut for what felt like an eternity. I was crying and blowing bubbles out of my nose, for weeks all I could taste was soap "Don't ever use that language"... I never swore at her in an offensive way again, to this day. We still laugh about it from time to time. If my kids act to the point they ignore my warnings and tellings off, then yes, a firm smack round the arse will be given. Respect is a tough lesson some times.
Ah yes, I remember the first time I came across an exciting new word - bollocks - and rushed to use my new found vocabulary on my mum... I didn't swear in her presence again til I was in my mid-30's, and that was only by accident.
Seems to me that the current laws have it covered. I am not a parent, but I see good and bad examples in others. The good ones seem to treat their kids like people, and want them to be around, and give them time, attention, affection and involve them in daily life. I saw a great example in a restaurant recently where two parents were discussing the menu with their child (approx. 5 or 6 years old I would say), and actually involving the child in a discussion. The bad ones seems to drag them around because they have to and hope they can still do what they would otherwise have done if the child was not there. I saw an appalling example a while ago where a man was talking to someone else and his son (again, probably 5 or 6 yrs old) was tugging his trouser leg to get his attention). The man turned to his son and "stop fucking pulling my trousers you little shit, can't you see I'm talking to someone". Whatever happens, there will be good, bad, indifferent and appalling parents. I'm not sure any change to the law regarding "smacking" will change the balance for the better.
Very interesting topic and difficult to agree with either smacking or not smacking we have four children two girls and two boys who are all different but have been brought up with the same rules no means no and all know right from wrong. My youngest daughter was two and the older 3 1/2 the younger bit the older drawing blood the wife told her mum on the phone what happened her mum advised her to bite the younger immediately, she never bit again. About the same time our friends where having the same problem , with there youngest , she was like a dog , bit everybody and all her mum done was told her it was wrong and not nice to bite , until one day she bit our youngest, well our youngest bit her back and she never bit again. So I think there is occasions when its the only way.
What it comes down to (and no, you don't need to be a parent to understand this common sense point) is that good parenting takes time, commitment, involvement and effort. Any less and you are letting your child, yourself and society down. I'm sure this is something everyone can agree on. Stressed hippos post a couple above hits the nail 100% on the head.
frankly from my experience of somes views on this thread reconciled with their views on other posts. I think there are some complete hypocritits on this site.
