Common Sense Beats Political Correctness...

[insein]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4279596,00.html

British Reject Ban on Spanking of Kids

Monday July 5, 2004 8:31 PM


By ED JOHNSON

Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) - British lawmakers on Monday voted against a ban on parents spanking their children, and decided instead to tighten existing rules.

After a three-hour debate in the House of Lords, peers rejected the ban by 250 votes to 75.

Instead, they voted by 226-91 to allow moderate spanking, but make it easier to prosecute parents who physically or mentally abuse their children by spanking.

The amendment must be approved by lawmakers in Parliament's lower chamber, the House of Commons, before becoming law.

Britain is out of step on the issue with several European countries, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Austria, where all physical punishment of children is illegal.

Pressure groups insist children must have the same legal protection from being hit as adults and had called for the law to be changed. Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has repeatedly shied away from a ban, fearing it will be accused of intruding into family affairs.

The current law dates back to a case in 1860, when a judge ruled that physical punishment of children should be allowed as a ``reasonable chastisement.''

Campaigners argue that ruling is ambiguous and two parliamentary committees have said it is too often used as a legal defense to excuse violent behavior that goes far beyond a spanking.

In the House of Lords on Monday, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Lester successfully proposed a measure to allow moderate spanking, but remove the ``reasonable chastisement'' defense if parents harmed a child physically or mentally. If the amendment is also approved by the Commons, the new law will make it easier for authorities to prosecute violent parents.

Several peers called for an outright ban.

``Smacking can lead to battering which can lead to death,'' said Liberal Democrat peer Lord Thomas. ``We are presented with medical reports, social service records, school records and one can see the route to death which starts with the initial smack.''

Independent peer Lord Ackner disagreed. ``I think we are overlooking that parents have a unique relationship with their children and in order to fulfill their parental responsibilities they have powers which they don't posses in relation to anyone else,'' he said.

Attorney General Lord Goldsmith backed Lester's measure and said it would ``have the effect of preventing harm to children without criminalizing parents for minor disciplinary steps.''

Blair's government ordered its Labour peers to vote against a ban, but allowed them a free vote on Lester's amendment.

``The government wants an outcome that maintains the balance between the parent's right to discipline and protecting the child,'' said Blair's official spokesman. ``That is why we don't want to criminalize parents. That is why we are opposed to outright bans.''

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

At least some common sense anyway.