Alan Shearer and Sir Michael Caine have called on Keir Starmer to implement a complete ban on smacking in England. Notable figures, including actors Natalie Dormer and Samantha Morton, have penned a letter to the Prime Minister requesting a change in the law to provide children with the same protection from harm as adults.
The letter, set to be hand-delivered to No10, highlights concerns that the current legislation gives a wrong impression that physical discipline on children is acceptable. A recent YouGov poll revealed that 81% of parents believe that resorting to force against a child is unacceptable.
While Wales and Scotland have already prohibited corporal punishment, England still allows hitting children under the guise of “reasonable punishment,” determined on a case-by-case basis. Advocates are pushing to close this legal loophole to safeguard children.
The joint letter, organized by the NSPCC and backed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Barnardo’s, emphasizes that hitting a child can never be considered reasonable and is unequivocally harmful. It urges for a law change to eliminate physical punishment on children in England.
A UCL study in 2024 revealed that over 20% of 10-year-olds in the UK experienced physical punishment in 2020 and 2021. Campaigners are advocating for the inclusion of a ban on physical punishment in the ongoing Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Sir Michael expressed his support for the NSPCC campaign, stressing the importance of aligning with other nations like Wales and Scotland in ensuring equal protection for children. He emphasized the urgency for England to follow suit and put an end to the detrimental practice for good.