NSPCC urges Stormont to end physical punishment defence for children

Children in Northern Ireland could soon receive the same legal protection from physical assault as adults, as mounting public support and fresh medical evidence intensify pressure on Stormont to abolish the controversial defence of “reasonable punishment”.

New research commissioned by NSPCC Northern Ireland shows a clear majority of adults now back changing the law to prohibit physical punishment of children, with campaigners warning the region is falling behind the rest of the UK and Ireland on child protection.

The charity, alongside politicians, doctors, academics, frontline workers and children’s organisations, is today handing an open letter to political party leaders at Stormont urging MLAs to support an amendment to the Justice Bill which would remove the legal defence currently available to parents or carers accused of assaulting a child.

The proposed change would not create a new offence, but would instead remove the defence of “reasonable punishment”, bringing Northern Ireland into line with 70 countries worldwide — including Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland — where children already have equal protection under assault laws.

Majority support legal reform

The findings from the NSPCC-commissioned survey, carried out in December 2025, suggest public opinion in Northern Ireland has shifted significantly in favour of reform.

Key findings include:

• 65% of adults support changing the law to give children the same protection from physical assault as adults

• Support rises to 67% among parents, guardians and carers of children under 18

• 72% of respondents said they would be more likely to support the change if parents could still physically intervene to stop a child from immediate danger, such as running onto a road

• Among parents and carers, support under those circumstances rises to 75%

• 70% said they would support reform if parents received more information and support around managing children’s behaviour effectively

• That figure increases to 73% among parents and carers

• 62% said they would be more likely to support the legal change if it was properly publicised

• Only 38% of respondents were aware that physical punishment of children is currently legally permitted in Northern Ireland under certain circumstances

• Awareness among parents and carers was slightly higher at 45%

The research also revealed a major gap between what people believe is effective and what they believe is acceptable.

While 27% of respondents said they believe physical punishment can be effective in managing children’s behaviour, only 12% considered smacking or hitting acceptable.

Among parents and carers specifically, just 8% considered physical punishment acceptable.

The survey found far greater public support for non-physical approaches to discipline.

Acceptable forms of discipline identified by respondents included:

• Withdrawal of treats or pocket money — 73%

• Time out — 68%

• Grounding — 64%

• Negotiation and discussion — 63%

By contrast:

• Ignoring or walking away from a child was considered acceptable by 25%

• Shouting by 19%

• Smacking or hitting by just 12% overall

Among parents and carers, the figures were:

• Withdrawal of treats or pocket money — 69%

• Negotiation and discussion — 64%

• Time out — 63%

• Grounding — 59%

• Ignoring or walking away — 25%

• Shouting — 23%

• Smacking or hitting — 8%

Medical evidence raises safeguarding concerns

Campaigners argue the growing support for reform is being reinforced by increasingly stark medical evidence around the impact of physical punishment on children.

The NSPCC highlighted a 2021 narrative review published by medical journal The Lancet which found physical punishment was not linked to positive outcomes for children and instead increased behavioural problems over time.

The charity also pointed to a 2024 report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), which found children who experience physical punishment are 2.3 times more likely to suffer physical abuse.

Dr Julie-Ann Maney, member of the RCPCH College Central Mental Health Committee, said the current law in Northern Ireland was “vague and unjust”.

She said:

“As paediatricians, we know that physical punishment in childhood can increase the risk of worse mental health outcomes for children, as well as poorer relationships with family members and potential behavioural problems later in life.

“The results from this survey clearly show that people in Northern Ireland want to see legislative change. We hope the Northern Ireland Assembly will listen to the evidence and vote to protect children from the mental and physical harms caused from physical punishment.”

Stormont vote approaching

The political focus now turns to the Northern Ireland Assembly, where the proposed equal protection amendment to the Justice Bill is expected to face selection and a vote by MLAs in the coming weeks.

Alliance Party MLA Michelle Guy, who tabled the amendment, said the proposal represented an opportunity for Northern Ireland to modernise child safeguarding laws.

She said:

“This amendment is an opportunity to bring Northern Ireland into line with modern safeguarding standards, and ensure that every child is afforded the same basic protection from physical harm as adults.

“It is encouraging to see that a strong majority of parents and the wider public now support reform. This exposes, once again, how out of touch some Assembly parties are on this issue.

“This does not create a new offence, simply removes the defence, and updating the law will help provide clarity for families and professionals working directly with children and young people.”

NSPCC Northern Ireland Policy and Public Affairs Manager Caroline Cunningham said the issue was ultimately about equal protection for children.

She said:

“The results of this survey show that an overwhelming majority of adults support a change in the law so that children in Northern Ireland have the same protection from physical punishment as adults.

“The NSPCC believes that it is vital the Northern Ireland Assembly reforms this outdated law. We will be at Stormont today to ask political party leaders to ensure MLAs back the amendment and send a very clear message to children that their protection matters.”

Frontline organisations back reform

The open letter being presented at Stormont carries around 250 signatures from organisations and professionals across Northern Ireland.

Supporters include representatives from:

• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)

• SureStart

• Academics and children’s sector professionals

• Frontline workers

• Charities and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland

The NSPCC says the campaign is not focused on criminalising parents, but on ensuring children have equal legal protections and encouraging positive parenting approaches supported by education and guidance.

The charity’s research found that only 31% of respondents reported receiving information on positive parenting, although that rose to 43% among parents and carers.

Among parents and carers, the most common sources of positive parenting information were:

• Parent or children’s groups — 39%

• Schools — 36%

• Health visitors — 28%

• Social workers — 16%

• GPs — 9%

The debate is likely to intensify in the coming days as Stormont prepares to consider one of the most significant proposed changes to child protection law in Northern Ireland in decades.

For more information and to support the campaign, visit: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/campaigns/end-physical-punishment/

Information on positive parenting support is available at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/parenting