The Physical Punishment of Children in Scotland: A Consultation: page 8

The Physical Punishment of Children in Scotland: A Consultation

Annex B

Public opinion in England

The UK Government also commissioned an opinion survey in England through the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Omnibus Survey 1998. This is a national representative survey carried out monthly throughout the year. The survey was carried out in April 1998, and a random probability sample of approximately 2,000 adults was interviewed.

The results of this survey suggest that public opinion in England was very similar to the 1992 SLC survey. It would very much defend the right of parents to use physical punishment.

88% of respondents agreed that it was sometimes necessary to smack a naughty child, while only 8% disagreed.

85% agreed that parents should be allowed, by law, to smack a naughty child who is over 5 years old, with 9% disagreeing.

There were no significant differences in the views on smacking held by men and women, or by parents in different age groups.

4% of respondents said that parents should be allowed, by law, to use a cane, stick or similar implement to punish a naughty child who is over five years old, while 7% said that parents should be allowed, by law, to use a cane, stick or similar implement to punish a naughty child who is over seven years old.

Over 90% of respondents said that parents should be allowed, by law, to ground or keep a naughty child at home as a punishment.

A minority said that parents should be allowed by law to punish children by depriving them of a meal or part of a meal (16%) or to shake or smack them on the head (2-3%).

60% considered that physical punishment that leaves no mark at all to be reasonable from the options presented. 36% would not specify any level of punishment as reasonable.

Nearly all respondents considered punishment that leaves a red mark or bruising to be unreasonable (96% and over 99% respectively).

1998 ons survey ON PUBLIC OPINION IN ENGLAND

	%age Agreeing	%age Disagreeing
Opinion statements on smacking
Parents should be allowed, by law, to smack a naughty child who is over five years old	85	9
Parents should be allowed, by law, to smack a naughty child who is over two years old	53	34
Parents should be allowed, by law, to smack a naughty child who is less than two years old	13	76
It is sometimes necessary to smack a naughty child	88	8
Opinion statements on using canes or other instruments
Parents should be allowed, by law, to use things like canes, stick, belts or slippers to punish a naughty child who is over seven years old	7	89
Parents should be allowed, by law, to use things like canes, stick, belts or slippers to punish a naughty child who is over five years old	4	93
Parents should be allowed, by law, to use things like canes, stick, belts or slippers to punish a naughty child who is over two years old	1	97
Parents should be allowed, by law, to use things like canes, stick, belts or slippers to punish a naughty child.	9	87
On this card is a list of other methods which some parents have used to punish a naughty child. Which of them do you think parents should be allowed to use by law?
"Grounding" or keeping the child in.	91
Smacking the child over the head	2
Shaking the child	3
Not allowing the child a meal or part of a meal	16
Others (e.g. Sending the child to his or her room, or stopping the child from doing something he or she likes to do)	35
None of the above	5
Which of the items on this card would you consider to be a reasonable level of punishment? Physical punishment that:
Leaves no mark at all on the child	60
Leaves a red mark that lasts for a few days	4
Leaves a bruise that lasts for a few days	<1
Leaves marks and bruises that last for more than a few days but which does not result in permanent injury	<1
None of the above	36