The NSPCC is calling on the new UK Government to follow Scotland and Wales and end the use of physical punishment of children in England. It comes as the organisation’s physical punishment helpline saw calls triple in a single year. Joanna Barrett, Associate Head of Policy (Devolved Nations) at NSPCC outlines the latest evidence that’s supporting the calls for change.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the NSPCC Helpline handled 1,451 child welfare contacts from across the UK where physical punishment was mentioned. This was over three times higher than in the same period in 2022 and 2023.
Our dedicated child protection specialists heard about children being hit, slapped and shaken as punishment. Of the 1,451 child welfare contacts made in the last year around physical punishment, 45% ended up requiring a referral to social services, the local authority, police or other services.
We think the increase in calls could be due to several factors, including continued public campaigning to end physical punishment by a range of organisations including us, increased Helpline service capacity and a lack of understanding from the public around what is ‘acceptable’ when it comes to punishing a child.
Contacts remained consistently high over the summer months when children were more visible to other members of the public rather than in school.
Who called?
Over half of total contacts to the Helpline regarding physical punishment were from members of the public who were concerned about a parent’s behaviour. One in ten were from children themselves. Professionals who work with children directly also reached out for support from the Helpline.
One adult who called the NSPCC Helpline said:
“I just left after visiting my friend and their 3-year-old boy. Their son was messing around a bit and when he wouldn’t stop the dad pulled him over his knee and smacked him twice. I must have looked shocked because his dad said it’s ok because he never leaves bruises, but the little one was crying and hid for the rest of the visit. It didn’t feel ok.”
Physical punishment is defined by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child as any punishment in which physical force is for a ban o used, with the intention of causing some degree of pain or discomfort, however light.
In England, the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ means that children are the only section of society who are not fully protected from physical assault.
However, more than 60 other countries around the world have put measures in place to protect children from assault. In the UK, Wales and Scotland have closed the legal loophole in the last few years to protect children from physical punishment.
Evidence base
Studies show that using physical punishment can have long-term and harmful consequences for children, even if they experience it in the context of a stable family background. It has been linked to conditions such as depression and anxiety and has been known to increase aggression and antisocial behaviour.
A recent YouGov survey commissioned by the NSPCC showed that there are rising levels of support from the public in England to give children the same legal protection as adults against physical punishment – from 67% in 2023 to 71% in 2024.
There is mounting evidence showing that physically disciplining children can be damaging and counterproductive. A long over-due change in the law to prevent physical punishment of children must be delivered by our political leaders.
The new UK Government have an opportunity to show they are committed to child protection and remove this legal anomaly which would end the use of physical punishment across the UK once and for all.
Further Reading
- Give children equal protection from physical abuse | NSPCC All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 3,559 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th – 28th January 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in England (aged 18+). The full results can be found
- Studies show that using physical punishment can have long-term and harmful consequences for children. Equal protection from assault in England and Northern Ireland: Prohibiting physical punishment of all children | RCPCH
- The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child defines it as any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light. Most involves hitting (“smacking”, “slapping”, “spanking”) children, with the hand or with an implement. But it can also involve, for example, kicking, shaking or throwing children. General Comment No. 8 (2006)
- Equal protection from assault, not ‘smacking ban’ | NSPCC Learning
- For more information about positive parenting alternatives go to NSPCC Learning at: Positive parenting | NSPCC Learning
- Snapshots are based on real Helpline contacts but are not necessarily direct quotes. All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of the child and/or adult involved.
About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the leading children’s charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. Using voluntary donations, which make up around 80 per cent of our funding, we help children who’ve been abused to rebuild their lives, we protect children at risk, and we find the best ways of preventing child abuse from ever happening. So when achild needs a helping hand, we’ll be there. When parents are finding it tough, we’ll help. When laws need to change, or governments need to do more, we won’t give up until things improve.
Our Childline service provides a safe, confidential place for children with no one else to turn to, whatever their worry, whenever they need help. Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our free NSPCC helpline is open every day of the year for any adult worried about a child. Our practitioners provide
advice and support, listen to concerns about a child, and offer general information about child protection.