UK rules on smacking

Parents can hit children - 22nd May 2023

In the UK, parents can hit their children. Many groups want this to stop. They wanted the government to make a rule. But the UK government didn’t.

The government doesn’t want to tell parents what to do. Parents can discipline their children. The UK government thinks children are safe with their parents. But parents shouldn’t hurt their children. This is illegal. There are strict rules against this. Parents have to be careful.

Some groups are upset about this. It’s illegal to hit adults. But it’s legal to hit children. It’s unfair to children. Sir Peter Wanless wants this to change. Children can get hurt.

The UK made a rule in 1986. Teachers couldn’t hit students. But this continued in Northern Irish schools. It only stopped there in the 2000s. In Scotland and Wales it’s illegal. Parents can’t hit their children. But in England and Northern Ireland parents can. But they can’t hurt the children.