Campaigners call for corporal punishment ban

Charity Nagalro is urging ministers to include measures in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to remove the legal protection given to parents accused of assaulting their children. Such provision would ban corporal punishment and ensure children receive the same protection from assault as adults. The government has said the bill, first announced in the Kings Speech in July and due to be published soon, will include several measures to improve safeguarding of home-educated children like Sara. This campaign follows the murder convictions last week of the father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara, who died after years of physical abuse. During the trial, Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, claimed that under English law, he was legally entitled to punish his child. Read more.