“This is an historic day for Jersey”

Tuesday 10 December 2019

States Members have voted to ban smacking, making Jersey the first place in the British Islands to do so.

The change, which stemmed from proposals brought forward by Deputy Mary Le Hegarat and adopted by States Members last year, will now come into force in April 2020.

It means that parents and guardians will no longer be able to use discipline as a defence against prosecution for assaults on children.

States Members voted 39 votes in favour of outlawing corporal punishment, and four against: Senator Sarah Ferguson, Constable Mike Jackson, and Deputies Mike Higgins and Rowland Huelin.

The #StatesAssembly has voted to ADOPT the Minister for Children's proposal which means #JerseyCI is the FIRST place in the British Isles to ban corporal punishment (i.e. smacking) or children everywhere, including in the home. RESULT: 39 FOR vs. 4 AGAINST pic.twitter.com/gueItWUDmn

— States Assembly (@StatesAssembly) December 10, 2019

The NSPCC has since lauded the decision, commenting: “This is an historic day for Jersey, closing an outdated loophole that finally gives children in Jersey the same legal protection from assault as adults.

“We believe children, one of our most vulnerable groups in society, deserve more protection under assault law not less.

“We have long campaigned for this defence to be removed and thanks to this momentous vote, the defence will be removed from the statute books in Jersey and children and young people will now be treated with fairness and equality under assault law. 

“It is a significant achievement, and once implemented will move Jersey in line with more than 50 countries around the world, consigning this archaic defence of reasonable punishment to history – a move we whole-heartedly support.”

Pictured: The proposals were set in motion by Deputy Mary Le Hegarat.

During the debate ahead of the vote, Children’s Minister Senator Sam Mézec also praised the plan, stating that it would put Jersey in the position of being “trailblazers” following criticism over the treatment of children in the island in the Care Inquiry.

The government is now planning a £7,000 campaign to raise awareness of the law change.