Children should be respected, says the NSPCC

The call by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) comes in its response to the newly published green paper, which proposes a range of new measures in the wake of the Victoria Climbie inquiry.

The NSPCC said it was "disappointed" the government had not proposed tightening the law governing family relationships and had failed to impose a legal duty on parents to promote their children's well-being, as exists in Scotland.

Children that aren't disciplined become muggers and crack dealers Bill Hibberd, Parent Organisation

It is urging ministers to use new legislation to remove the legal defence of "reasonable chastisement" - which enables parents to smack their children without fear of prosecution for assault.

"The NSPCC believes that if society is serious about wanting to reduce the number of children who are severely abused then it must create a culture in which children are respected and treated as equal citizens with rights of their own, not as adjuncts of their parents," the charity said.

However it did say the green paper, Every Child Matters, represented the "most significant opportunity for children in a generation".

Parents' rights campigners argue adults should be allowed to discipline their children with smacking.

Bill Hibberd, director of the Parent Organisation, said children suffered if their parents failed to discipline them when necessary.

Identity numbers

Sometimes a "tap" on the bottom was the answer, he said.

"Children that aren't disciplined become muggers and crack dealers.

"They are the ones running around the streets because mummy and daddy didn't want to tell them off," he said.

"The Parent Organisation doesn't want to see any child abused, nor do we want to see all children lacking discipline.

"We say that a short, sharp smack on the bottom for a child who is being unreasonable is not unreasonable chastisement."

Unless these (privacy) rights are protected there is a risk that children will not access services NSPCC

In its response to the green paper, the NSPCC also warns that moves to improve information sharing on children at risk of abuse could encourage some of the most vulnerable to "disappear" from the system.

The government has proposed creating a record of every child, which could be shared between local authorities, police and social services.

To improve tracking and sharing of information between child care services, all children be given an identity number.

'Far-reaching reform'

But the NSPCC said this had to be balanced against children's privacy.

"Unless these rights are protected there is a risk that children will not access services, both for fear of losing these rights and concern about the consequences of doing so."

The green paper, currently out for consultation, includes proposals for the creation of an independent children's commissioner, who would act as a "champion" for young people.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said the changes would be "the most far-reaching reform of children's services for 30 years".

The idea of a children's commissioner post for England was supported by Lord Laming in his report into the death of Victoria Climbie.

Victoria died in north London in 2000, after prolonged neglect and cruelty by her carers. Lord Laming's report said that she had been seen by various professionals who did not share information and failed to save her.

Wales already has a children's commissioner, and Scotland and Northern Ireland are about to appoint commissioners.