Child Beater

I abhor physical violence and I believe that everyone who commits physical violence should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Or do I ?.

Imagine this. The police phone you and ask you to come into the station to be with your 13-year-old son who has just been arrested for breaking and entering. During the course of the interview you get somewhat irate and cuff your son around the back of the head. Only to find the interview suspended and you arrested and charged with assault.

Now undoubtedly the 13-year-old is in the wrong and you have every right to be angry and to meet out a suitable punishment, but in this case, surely the police were also in the wrong.

In 2011 children have rights and while according to the law parents are allowed to smack their children, as long as it qualifies as moderate and reasonable chastisement. This parent will never be able to touch his son in any way whatsoever again, without having his police record thrown back in his face. For a parent clearly struggling with an out-of-control teen, maybe the police should have taken him to one side, offered support and counselling for not only anger issues but also assistance in how to bring his son under control, instead of undermining his authority further and labelling him a child beater.

Every reasonable parent knows how difficult it is to keep their children on the straight path towards becoming a law-abiding member of society and many regularly threatened with the Child Line phone number but by removing this parent's right to discipline his child surely the police have just helped another juvenile on the road towards delinquency.