Overview

• 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.