The law says that parents have the right to use  “reasonable chastisement” on their child. This means that they can use mild forms of physical punishment. However, hitting a child hard enough to leave visible bruising, grazes, scratches, minor swellings or cuts, now constitutes the criminal offence of actual bodily harm. This carries a prison sentence.

Nobody else can legally physically chastise a child, even if the parent has given their permission. Anybody else using physical force to punish or discipline a child may be accused of physical abuse and is committing a criminal offence.

This includes:

• smacking
• tapping
• punching
• hitting with any object (including shoes, rulers and cooking utensils)
• twisting ears
• pinching
• slapping.

It also includes causing pain and discomfort by making children sit or stand in uncomfortable positions or for long periods and burning with matches or incense sticks.

Hurting children isn’t the best way to teach them right from wrong. There are better forms of discipline and the following guides will help you raise awareness of the issue.




Domestic abuse and its impact on children
A three-day National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) training course for practitioners and managers.




06 April 2010
Following recommendations from the Chief Adviser on Child Safety, Sir Roger Singleton, the Government has announced its intention to ban physical punishment of children in any form of tuition or care outside of the family. Read more

Behave yourself: a guide to better parenting
NSPCC. Positive ways to encourage good behaviour.

NSPCC parenting leaflets
The NSPCC produce a wide range of leaflets for parents and carers.


Other sources of information
NSPCC HelpLine
ChildLine