Violence prevention through legislative change: Qualitative insights on ending the physical punishment of children in the UK

Soc Sci Med. 2026 Jul 2;404:119548. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119548. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Physical punishment violates children’s rights as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has consistently been linked to detrimental outcomes, yet it remains legal in most countries. In the UK, it is prohibited in Scotland and Wales, whereas in England and Northern Ireland, the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ remains available to parents. We report findings from a qualitative study that sought to understand how law reform was achieved in Scotland and Wales and why it has been resisted in England and Northern Ireland. We interviewed 29 stakeholders across the four UK nations and a broad range of sectors. Data were analysed using framework analysis. Two advisory groups of young people provided their perspectives on the research throughout. In line with Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework, our findings suggest that law reform becomes possible when three elements align: recognition of the problem, a feasible solution, and a favourable socio-political climate. Successful advocacy for reform centred arguments around physical punishment’s incompatibility with children’s rights, evidence of harm, and the need to address the ambiguity of what constitutes ‘reasonable punishment’. Ultimately, the case for reform required strong cross-sector coalitions and a receptive political environment. Participants also highlighted the importance of careful implementation, including public education, parenting support, guidance for frontline professionals, and monitoring. These findings provide transferable lessons for efforts to reform legislation in England, Northern Ireland and internationally, and add to the wider understanding of how research evidence and rights discourses can be translated into policy.

PMID:42398406 | DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119548