Children's protection to be extended to NI

Children in Northern Ireland will soon be entitled to the same protection under law as their counterparts in England and Wales when it comes to smacking children.

Following a review of the law on the physical punishment of children in the home, the Secretary of State has decided that Section 58 of the Children Act 2004 should apply in Northern Ireland.

This will see it become an offence to hit a child if it results in lasting harm or marks. This restricts a parent's legal defence of 'reasonable chastisement' to the charge of common assault.

Welcoming the move, the Minister for Children and Young People, Jeff Rooker, said: "I am glad that children here will soon have the same protection under law as children in England and Wales.

"I recognise that this is a sensitive issue for many parents - a fact borne out by the differing views expressed during the consultation process here. But society benefits from adequate protection for all its citizens, especially those who do not yet have a voice.

"It did not seem right that children in Northern Ireland would have one law applied to them, while quite a different law applied elsewhere in the UK. That is why Government has moved quickly to put that right."

A paper, published last year by the Office of Law Reform, revealed diverging views here on the issue of the physical punishment of children.

A similar divergence was apparent during the passage of the Children Bill through Parliament last year, but the balance of favour rested finally with the introduction of what is now known as section 58.

(MB/SP)