INTRODUCING legislation to ban smacking is the first step in changing the culture around physical punishment, it has been suggested.

MSPs are currently considering a bill that would remove the defence of “justifiable assault” in Scots law. The defence currently allows parents to use physical punishment on children.

It has been claimed a ban would risk criminalising parents.

At Holyrood’s Equalities and Human Rights committee yesterday, Bruce Adamson, the children and young people’s commissioner for Scotland, said following the introduction of similar legislation in other countries around the world there had not been a large increase in the number of prosecutions nor had there been an instant change in public opinion. He said there had been a gradual change in public opinion over time and a culture change towards violence.

“Without the legislation, you don’t get the culture change, that is what we know to be true,” said Adamson.

“You need the legislation to deliver the culture change and in that way it could be seen as the same as things like seat belts in cars, our attitudes towards drink-driving or smoking in pubs, where you need to lead with the legislation in order to deliver the cultural change because it sets a very clear indication.

“It’s not the prosecutions that change the culture but it’s the very clear indication in the law as to what is expected.”

Joanna Barrett, representing Barnardo’s Scotland, Children 1st and NSPCC Scotland, said a legal change would bring “absolute clarity” for parents and professionals seeking to support parents, as well as for children.

She said: “We need to accept that this is a really emotive issue. It speaks to how we were parented, it speaks to how we parent.”

Barrett also suggested some public opinion polls have indicated a disparity in support for the bill between older and younger generations.