The controversial issue of smacking was the focus of talks held in the Council Chamber earlier this year.
Representatives on the Hastings Young Persons Council argued the merits for and against smacking, before the matter was put to the vote.
Youth councillors had previously been split on the subject, with the minority believing that smacking was an effective way for parents to deter bad behaviour.
Speaker for the motion to outlaw smacking was 14-year old, Leanne Cannon. She gave a compelling speech that focussed on giving children and young people equal rights and protection from assault as adults. Her argument made the following points:
Smacking is another word for hitting, and it should be seen as assault. Research shows that most UK children are hit and around a third are hit severely.
Why should it be legal for adults to hit the smallest and youngest citizens of our society?
No adult would accept being hit by another adult as a way of correcting his or her behaviour. So why should children accept this? Children and young people should be given equal protection from assault.
Hitting children demoralises them and teaches them that it is alright to use what amounts to bullying tactics to sort out problems.
The motion was strongly opposed by 19-year old Nikita Quinnell, who disagreed and did not want to see caring parents, who used smacking as a last resort, effectively 'criminalised'. However, during the debate it was pointed out that of the countries that had banned parents from smacking their children, no parent had been jailed. Instead, these countries (eg. Sweden, Germany, Norway etc) focussed on promoting positive parenting and non-violent discipline and as a result were beginning to change attitudes and behaviour for the better.
At the end of this lively evening, Leanne managed to persuade the majority of youth councillors and audience members, including leader of Hastings Borough Council, Peter Pragnell, and long time supporter of the 'Children are Unbeatable' campaign, Cllr Jay Kramer to vote for reforming the laws on smacking.
Chair of Hastings Young Persons Council, 17-year old Luke Springthorpe hopes that this will go on to be debated at a full Hastings Borough Council meeting in the next few months.
If you are aged between 13 and 21 and would like to make sure that issues concerning young people are kept at the forefront of decision-making then please join Hastings Young Persons Council.
See website www.youngpersonscouncil.co.uk, or call 01424 451492 or email hypc-info@hastings.gov.uk for more details.
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This page last updated: 13/06/2007