Illegal

In Scotland, parents can no longer hit their children as a form of repression

Smacking is still allowed in other parts of the United Kingdom if it is a 'reasonable punishment' under the Children's Act 2004

 

Smacking is now illegal in Scotland, becoming the first part of the United Kingdom to bring such a ban.

Children have the same protection against assault as adults after the change came into force on Saturday.

The Scottish Parliament passed the change last year, and Wales should follow suit by 2022.

Joanna Barrett of NSPCC Scotland said: "This law sets out in clear terms that physical punishment should no longer be part of childhood in Scotland and marks an important step towards making it a country where the rights of the child are truly recognised, respected and enforced".