Legislation to ‘criminalise emotional abuse’ of children is set to be introduced in Scotland, despite concerns about a previous attempt to bring in a similar law in England and Wales, it was reported in early March.
Such a law could see parents criminalised for raising children according to their religious beliefs. Parents and other concerned citizens will be given an opportunity to share their views in a consultation on the ‘scope and nature’ of the law later in the year.
The Times in Scotland, while noting that it is a laudable aim to protect children, criticised the proposal. It ‘runs the risk of breaking up families’, the newspaper warned, and would require authorities to rule on parental discipline. ‘Bitter experience’, added The Times, has shown that vulnerable children are more likely to slip through the net due to overworked social workers, rather than any ‘failure of law’.
