NSPCC Reports Surge in Concerns Over Physical Punishment of Children

Calls to the NSPCC helpline about children being hit, slapped, or shaken have tripled in the past year, prompting renewed demands for a UK-wide ban.

The NSPCC helpline received 1,451 contacts about physical punishment in the past year, up from 447 the previous year.
Nearly half of these contacts were serious enough to warrant referrals to social services or police.
Wales and Scotland have already banned all forms of corporal punishment, while England and Northern Ireland still allow it under certain conditions.
Campaigners and child health experts are urging the UK government to eliminate legal defenses for physical punishment.
Public awareness campaigns and increased helpline capacity may have contributed to the rise in reported concerns.