Finnie welcomes support for child protection bill

A three-month public consultation on removing the defence of “justifiable assault” of children from Scots law, giving them the same protection as adults, has resulted in more than 650 responses from individuals and organisations with almost 75 per cent of respondents supportive.

A number of organisations offered their support to the proposal, including the Scottish Police Federation, who said: “The bill will provide greater protection to our children and convey to society that the physical punishment of children is not acceptable. In the longer term evidence suggests that it may reduce violence and bullying on and by our children.”

Mr Finnie said: “I am grateful to all organisations and individuals that contributed to the consultation. It is clear from the responses that there is overwhelming support for the proposal.

“There is widespread recognition that children should receive the same legal protection from assault that adults enjoy, a position that children’s rights organisations and charities have been arguing for some time. It is also clear from all the available research that the status quo can be damaging to children and must not be allowed to continue.”