Smack ban is opposed

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Jan 23, 2006

A North East-based Christian pressure group has criticised proposals to impose a smacking ban on parents saying it would be "unpopular, unworkable and unnecessary".

The UK's four regional Children's Commissioners are expected to jointly call for a total ban on smacking children as a way of punishment.

The Christian Institute, based in Newcastle, has defended parents who occasionally use a smack to correct their child's bad behaviour.

Director Colin Hart said: "Because of political correctness, there have been a number of cases of parents being falsely accused of child abuse simply for using ordinary smacking. That can only get worse if a ban is introduced."