PETITIONRejectedPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Make it illegal for parents to smack their children
I want the government to make it illegal for parents to smack their children regardless as to whether it leaves a mark or not. Corporal punishment should not be legal when there are so many healthier forms of punishment/discipline.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
7
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 7/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 7/100,000
Background
Smacking your child can cause psychological damage and trauma. It can cause issues later on in life such as aggression, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem etc. There are plenty of other non-violent ways to discipline children. Causing them physical pain and risking giving them trauma in the name of “discipline” is not okay and it is abuse. I know many people who have been traumatised from being smacked as a child, now they have to live with that trauma for the rest of their lives.