Campaigners will deliver a letter to Downing Street on Tuesday, urging Keir Starmer to act as the existing law ‘sends a dangerous message that striking a child can be excused’
Alan Shearer and Sir Michael Caine today urged Keir Starmer to impose a total ban on smacking in England.
A group of campaigners and famous faces, including actors Natalie Dormer and Samantha Morton, has written to the Prime Minister to demand a law change so children have the same protection from harm as adults.
The letter, which will be hand delivered to No10, says the existing law “sends a dangerous message that striking a child can be excused”. It comes after a poll by YouGov in August found 81% of parents said using force against a child crosses the line.
Wales outlawed corporal punishment, including smacking, hitting, slapping and shaking, in March 2022, while Scotland introduced a similar ban in November 2020.
In England, it is against the law to hit your child except where it can be described as “reasonable punishment”, which is judged on a case-by-case basis. Campaigners are calling for the legal loophole to be closed to protect kids.
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The letter, co-ordinated by the NSPCC and supported by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and children’s charity Barnardo’s, said: “We believe that it is never ‘reasonable’ to hit a child. It is harm, plain and simple. And the current law sends a dangerous message that striking a child can be excused.”
In a direct appeal to Mr Starmer, they said: “Prime Minister, this is your opportunity to be brave and lead with courage and compassion. We ask you to stand up, alongside us, for every child’s right to safety, dignity, and respect. It’s time to end the physical punishment of children in England, for good.”
A study by UCL last year(2024) found more than one in five 10-year-olds experienced physical punishment in 2020 and 2021 in the UK. Campaigners want a ban to be included in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.
Sir Michael said: “I am proud to sign this letter and support this NSPCC campaign calling for the end of physical punishment on children in England. Many other countries around the world, including Wales and Scotland, have already changed the law to ensure children have the same protection from being hit as adults.
“Now is the moment for England to join them and draw a line under this damaging and harmful practice once and for all.”
Bafta-winner Samantha Morton, a supporter of the NSPCC, said: “Physical punishment of children is never reasonable, and the law in England needs to be changed to address this. It’s vague, it’s harmful, and it leaves children less protected than adults.
“I’m proud to stand with the NSPCC at Downing Street today and call on the Government to act to protect children and ensure that the law is clear, equal and most of all, keeps every child safe from harm.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “While we are looking closely at the legal changes made in Wales and Scotland in relation to reasonable punishment, we have no plans to legislate at this stage.
“The landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, a key part of our plan for change, represents the most transformative piece of child protection legislation in a generation, including wholesale reform of the children’s social care system and better information sharing between education, health and social workers to stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks.”
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