Should the government make it a criminal offence for parents to smack or physically discipline their children?

In the UK, Scotland and Wales have fully banned the physical punishment of children, removing the 'reasonable punishment' legal defense. However, in England and Northern Ireland, parents can still legally use a light smack as long as it does not leave a mark. Proponents argue that physical discipline causes long-term psychological harm, teaches children that violence is acceptable, and that children deserve the exact same legal protection from physical assault as adults. Opponents argue that a light tap is harmless and effective, fearing a blanket ban represents state overreach that will criminalize well-meaning parents and waste valuable police resources on functional families.