Parents Could Face Jail For Emotional Abuse

Parents who inflict emotional cruelty on their children could face up to 10 years in prison under new measures being considered by the Government.

The so-called “Cinderella Law” will put emotional neglect on a par with physical neglect for the first time.

Under the law it will be a crime to do anything to deliberately harm a child’s “physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development”.

This could include not showing children love or deliberately ignoring them over a long period of time, making them a scapegoat or forcing degrading punishments upon them.

Parents who get benefits for a child but do not properly clothe or feed their children could also be prosecuted.

According to the Department for Education, emotional abuse is more common than physical abuse.

The measures, expected to be introduced in the Queen’s Speech in June, come after a lengthy campaign to change the law, led by charity Action for Children and MPs from across all parties.

The charity’s chief executive Sir Tony Hawkhead said: “This is a monumental step forward for thousands of children who we know suffer from emotional abuse and countless others whose desperate situations have yet to come to light.

“I’ve met children who have been scapegoated in their families, constantly humiliated and made to feel unloved.

“The impact is devastating and can lead to life-long mental health problems and, in some cases, suicide.

“We are one of the last countries in the western world to recognise all forms of child abuse as a crime. Years of campaigning have been rewarded, the Government has listened and this law will change lives.”

Former president of the family division of the High Court Baroness Butler-Sloss and Robert Buckland, a Tory MP and part-time judge, have also been involved in the parliamentary campaign.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph Mr Buckland said: “Not too many years after the Brothers Grimm popularised the story of Cinderella, the offence of child neglect was introduced.

“Our criminal law has never reflected the full range of emotional suffering experienced by children who are abused by their parents or carers. The sad truth is that, until now, the Wicked Stepmother would have got away scot-free.”

The South Swindon MP added: “Emotional neglect must be outlawed, the term ‘wilful’ should be replaced and the criminal law should be brought into line with its civil counterpart.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The Government believes protecting children from harm is fundamental and that child cruelty is an abhorrent crime which should be punished.

“Every child should be able to grow up in a safe environment – we are considering ways the law can support this.”

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Parents Could Face Jail For Emotional Abuse