Scotland set to make it a criminal offence for parents to smack their children

MSPs have the chance to make history today by voting in favour of Scotland becoming the first country in the UK to end the physical punishment of children when Green MSP John Finnie’s Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill will be voted on its third stage in parliament.

NSPCC Scotland has been involved with this Bill since its inception, and eagerly await the result.

Joanna Barrett, policy and public affairs officer for NSPCC Scotland, said: “This is a landmark opportunity to give children in Scotland the same protection from assaults as adults, bringing our country in line with dozens of others all over the world.

“If passed, the Bill will close an out-of-date legal loophole, championing equality and fairness and ending legally sanctioned physical punishment – whether you’re an adult or a child.

“NSPCC Scotland has been involved in this Bill since its inception and will continue to lend support until the change is implemented and the out-of-date defence of justifiable assault is, at long last, deleted from law.”

The Scottish government has backed the move to give children the same protection from assault as adults and the ban on all physical punishment is expected to be overwhelmingly backed by the Scottish Parliament in a vote this afternoon.

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davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer