ASSEMBLY members have raised concern that the vote to introduce a smacking ban in Wales has “criminalised parents”.

Darren Millar, AM for Clwyd West, said he was “disappointed” after the Welsh Assembly voted 36 to 14 to approve The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) in the Senedd on Tuesday, January 21.

Ministers said the legislation will come into force in 2022, sees the Welsh Government join 58 other nations including Scotland to end the physical punishment of children.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said "times had changed" and physically disciplining children was no longer a part of modern society.

However opponents of the new law said it will criminalise parents and increase pressure on already-stretched social services.

“Once implemented it will result in the criminalisation of tens of thousands of decent living parents who use the occasional smack to discipline their children,” said Mr Millar, who voted against the bill.

“In spite of claims that it will protect children from abuse, the reality is that it will likely divert police and social services resources away from real cases of abuse as they become swamped with complaints about smacking.

“Parenting is tough enough as it is. We should be supporting mums and dads, not criminalising them.”

Mark Isherwood, AM for North Wales, said the bill does not represent the views of the “overwhelming majority” of parents in Wales.

“The people behind this bill appear to live in an unrepresentative ‘Cardiff Bay bubble’, where sitting in judgement on others and deciding what is good for them takes priority over listening to the people they are supposed to represent," said Mr Isherwood, a parent of six.

“The overwhelming majority of parents already know and apply the ‘positive parenting’ interventions they advocate, whilst also retaining the option of light smacking in their positive parenting toolkit for rare use in times of danger or as a last resort”.

The public has been promised an extensive awareness campaign before the implementation of the law.

Ann Jones, AM for the Vale of Clwyd, said children “should be entitled to the same legal protection from assault as adults”.

“Many countries have already made the physical punishment of children unlawful,” Mrs Jones said. “Our understanding of what is needed to protect and support individuals, children and their families has changed considerably over the years and societal norms have changed as a result.

“Removing the defence of reasonable punishment is a natural and logical progression and will ensure that all children in Wales are given the chance to thrive and fulfil their potential.”

The Welsh Government does not expect any additional children will come under the remit of the care system in Wales as a direct consequence of the bill as most incidents of physical punishment would not require a response under statutory child protection processes.

Professor Sally Holland, Children's Commissioner for Wales, said: "I'm so pleased, delighted and proud that Wales has joined dozens of other countries around the world to give children the same protection from physical punishment that adults enjoy.

"It's never OK to hit a child - congratulations to the Welsh Government and to members of the Senedd who have prioritised children's rights by passing this legislation."