The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 came into force in March 2022 – but how effective has it been?
The Welsh government and Government Social Research have published a review of the law introduced three years ago which made it illegal for parents to physically punish their children.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev / Unsplash
The report finds good progress being made, noting high awareness of the change in law, positive support for it and a wider cultural shift in attitudes.
Read the full report, Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020: evidence and data synthesis
The new law was designed to focus on education and prevention, helping families rather than punishing them. One major success, says the report, has been the Out-of-Court Parenting Support Scheme. This helps parents learn positive parenting techniques instead of facing prosecution.
Since the law came into force in March 2022, some 365 families have been referred for this support, with 310 of them completed the sessions, the majority reporting positive outcomes.
In the same period, fewer than five cases have been referred for prosecution.
The review also found strong awareness of the new law across Wales. Some 95% of parents said that they know that physical punishment of a child is illegal, while 87% of the public more generally know about the legislation and 87% of children and young people know their parents are not permitted to physically punish them.
A clear majority of parents – 86% – said that they view physical punishment as ineffective anyway.
Those who work in roles supporting children and families also report greater confidence discussing discipline and children’s rights with parents. They say the law has removed any confusion about physical punishment, making it clearer for both professionals and parents.
Though these findings are positive, the Welsh government has identified areas for improvement. These include making more data available, with qualitative research conducted with particular groups to better understand in more detail how the law is realised. The report also concludes that some modest, practical improvements could be made in communication, workforce support and data quality, especially in consistency and equity.
Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care, says: ‘This review shows our landmark law is working and making significant progress in protecting children’s rights. By supporting families rather than punishing them, we’re helping parents develop positive relationships with their children.
‘The fact that 95% of parents now know physical punishment is illegal, and the overwhelming majority view it as ineffective, represents a significant cultural shift. I’m particularly proud that our approach prioritises education and support, with hundreds of families benefiting from parenting programmes. We want to see a Wales where every child is safe, valued and respected, and the law is playing a vital role in achieving this.’
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