Smacking Bill

I don't know how to do those link things

But I thought this was exactly what Sue Bradford said wasn't going to happen!

Regular smackers may face charges
By MARTIN KAY - The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 20 June 2007

Parents who regularly smack their children despite warnings face prosecution and referral to Child, Youth and Family under police guidelines on the controversial law banning physical punishment.

Even parents found to have used "minor, trivial or inconsequential" force and not charged will have their details recorded by police family violence coordinators, under the guidelines sent to officers yesterday.

The advice, from Police Commissioner Howard Broad, is a crucial element in the implementation of the law that abolishes the defence of reasonable force for parents who smack their children. The law comes into force on Friday.

It was passed with overwhelming support after a last-minute deal between Labour and National brought a clause making it clear that police were not expected to prosecute "inconsequential" smacking.

But though that is recognised in the guidelines, there is no definition of "inconsequential", with officers told it will ultimately be up to the courts to determine in test cases.

The advice says that smacking not considered inconsequential by investigating officers may be prosecuted if it is "repetitive and frequent" and previous warnings or interventions have been ignored.

Such incidents would constitute assault, and must be referred to child abuse investigators and CYFS.

Parents who are investigated for smacking that is found to be too trivial to prosecute will have their details handed to family violence officers.

Family First director Bob McCoskrie, who led a massive campaign against the law change, said the guidelines confirmed many of the fears raised by opponents.

"Who's going to be the lucky test case parents who have to go through the hell of a prosecution? If the police are saying 'we're not sure', how in the heck are parents going to be certain that they're parenting within the law?"

But Green MP Sue Bradford, who introduced the bill, said the guidelines gave police "some context" in which to make decisions.

"Is it just once, is it very light, is it twice and very light, or is it twice and very heavy? It was never the intention that every occasion that someone ever lightly smacked would necessarily be prosecuted. I think that the police have walked that fine line here very well."

The guidelines say hitting with a weapon or implement, strikes to the head and kicking should "generally" be prosecuted. In borderline smacking cases, police should consider the child's age, maturity, ability to reason, physical development, health and sex and the circumstances that led to the use of force.

Edited by nuttymama

What if a child was sticking a knife in a plug hole, would the government pefer that the child get an electric shock or a smack on the hand (this is hyperthetically (sp))

My sister said she will ring the police to come and discipline her son which I think is a fair statement

I know, it's the same thing the bill is still left open to interpretation!

Who defines what's "inconsequential".

It's crazy.

Lizzle do you want to be cell mates?? I don't smack the kids very often at all but in times of danger I do on the odd occasion.

I disagree. It takes at least minor force to get Hannah to the time-out spot and that's even without smacking.

This crazy woman is the type of stuff that they are going to be dealing with!

Yeah I'm sure there will be some common sense...

I know... I just don't understand how! I mean, kids drive me nuts, but not enough to do anything like that!

nikkiwhyte wrote: Arghhhh you left off the end of the article Here is the rest - National's leader, John Key, said today his party would keep a close watch on developments. "The critical test of this legislation was always going to be the way it was administered," he said. "But I am confident the police will administer the law with the appropriate judgment and discretion required." Mr Key said a National-led government would change the law if it was not working. "The overwhelming majority of New Zealanders do not want to see good parents criminalised for an 'inconsequential' smack. That's what National signed up to, and that's still the case."

This wasn't on Stuff where I got the article off sorry.

I just read the article you had a link to and WOW. That's so horrible!!

Edited by nuttymama

Whoa there really is a fair few sick people out there.. Re: Article of The Crazy women & other recent related News



Edited by Glow

Im all for catching the parents who beat their children, but not for parents who occasionally light smack their children to be prosecuted, cause I can see it happening.

I give HAleigh the odd light smack esp when timeout isnt suitable, like in the supermarket the other day she booted me a fair one on my bump and it hurt real bad, I asked her to stop and she kept laughing, so i smacked her on the hand, since I was on my own, getting her to timeout wasnt an option while waiting in a cue with a trolley full of groceries.
She doesnt go into timeout often or get a samck often at all as shes not really a bad kid and is easily stopped lately. but at times i think a light smack is the only way to stop the bad behaviour.

I would like to see the actual guidlines to this rather than what the medias telling us as its all confusing as to whats classed as reasonable force etc etc.
The whole things been changed that many times according to what Ive picked up on the news.