Whilst physical violence is obviously not a means of gaining respect from a child, I simply do not believe that these are the sort of domestic activities a government should be concerning themselves with. It seems somewhat oxymoronic, Orwellian even to, on one hand, remove a means of discipline from the parent and on the other hand, create new means by which the government may control and discipline the child (looking mainly at the introduction of ASBO's under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.you sould be aloud to do what you prefare to do with your child you cant be told what to do by someone else

No child likes to be punished, but in the long term the use of appropriate punishments such as smacking creates a generation of disciplined children. These children face less threat of violence or other criminal activity from their peers; less bullying, teenage muggings, or incidents such as the recent spate of teenage knife crime. A well disciplined child contributes to his society rather than endangering it.

As has been argued above, smacking (when clearly just that, and not physical abuse) does not leave marks. It does not usually render the child psychologically damaged to the effect that it can be noticed. If it were an illegal practise, parents would be unlikely to admit to doing it. Even today, parents would be sheepish to mention they use this particular form of discipline, given all the hysteria surrounding the issue.

So, when a child says "Mummy smacked me", how can it be verified, for it to then be prosecuted? Children routinely lie. They see no harm in it, but may see a benefit. For example, a child of around age seven would grasp the concept very quickly that Mummy and Daddy would have to be very, very nice if they were reported as being bad parents, and they might subsequently lie about being smacked, in order to get sweets or attention from their parents. Whilst I am not arguing that children are inherently evil, it is important to simultaneously treat their behaviour with healthy cynicism.

So, were legislation to be introduced against smacking, it would be very hard to enforce. There would also be the aspect of severity. If a mother hits her child's hand forcefully in order to prevent him reaching and touching a hot stove, is this smacking? Parents inevitably have to physically restrain children sometimes, for their own safety. To not do so would be neglect.

With this in mind, would it be worth the government's while to set up such legislation, bear the public outcry, spend tax money on advertising and awareness campaigns, only for the prosecution levels to be minimal, for a crime that seems to have never caused severe psychological or physical damage in the first place?

Teaches respect