Scotland becomes the first part of the UK to ban smacking by parents.

Oct 15, 2019, 10:23 AM

Scotland has become the first part of the UK to ban smacking by parents. A bill was passed in the Scottish Parliament recently making it a criminal offence for a parent or carer to use physical force to discipline children. It means Scottish kids now have the same protection from assault as adults. Wales is also close to an outright ban and Ireland banned smacking four years ago. Is it ever OK to use what current law refers to as "reasonable chastisement" to discipline a child? Stephen got the views of commentators Phil Kelly and Brendan O'Neill from Spiked Online.