Europe, UK (Commonwealth Union) – A recent study briefing from UCL reveals that over 20% of 10-year-olds in the UK underwent physical punishment during 2020 and 2021.
This form of punishment, encompassing actions like smacking and hitting, stands as the most prevalent form of violence against children. While Scotland and Wales have recently banned physical punishment across all environments, it remains lawful in homes within England and Northern Ireland.
Funded by the Nuffield Foundation and aided by the NSPCC and Barnardo’s, the briefing unveils insights from a study using data from extensive UK cohort studies. The aim was to scrutinize the prevalence of physical punishment among children in the UK and track its changes over time.
Despite a decline in parental resort to physical punishment over the past decade, it remains widespread across various societal strata in the UK. The highest incidence is observed among preschoolers, with boys being subjected to it more frequently than girls.
The lead author, Dr Anja Heilmann of the UCL Epidemiology & Public Health says “It is critical that all children are protected from physical punishment in all forms and settings.
“Evidence from other countries has shown that physical punishment declines faster where it is prohibited. Scotland and Wales have paved the way and reformed their laws – it is time for England and Northern Ireland to follow.”
The research briefing aligns with the release of fresh YouGov survey findings, encompassing 3,500 adults across England. These results indicate that a significant majority of the English populace (71%) deem smacking, hitting, slapping, or shaking a child is not acceptable. Moreover, there’s a noticeable uptick in support for granting children equal legal protection against physical punishment, akin to adults.
Additionally, the survey highlights that merely 31% of respondents would resist a legal amendment to cease the practice of physical punishment on children in England. Notably, over 60 countries worldwide have already implemented analogous measures.
