When is a hit not a hit? Following the House of Lords' decision last week not to ban smacking, confusion reigns over what level of physical punishment of children is acceptable. Bruising, scratching, caning, reddening of the skin and causing psychological distress are out, but what about a hit that doesn't leave a mark?
Lucy Thorpe, policy advisor for health and family support at the NSPCC and member of the England strategy group for Children are Unbeatable!, the anti-smacking alliance, wonders how ethical it is to be even having the discussion.
"We need to recognise that smacking is just a euphemism for a hit," she says. "There shouldn't be anything in law that defends the physical punishment of children."
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