Doctors have called for a total ban on smacking children in England, arguing there is no evidence the "Victorian-era" punishment has a positive effect on their wellbeing. Smacking in England is currently illegal, except in cases where it is considered a "reasonable punishment".

       The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has now called for the legal defence to be scrapped, using an amendment to a law currently going through Parliament. Professor Andrew Rowland, a consultant paediatrician and RCPCH officer for child protection, said parents should discipline their children "in a way that doesn’t involve violence". Children who experience physical punishment are more than twice as likely to experience serious physical assault and abuse, according to the RCPCH. Prof Rowland said: "If we want to stop that, the first step has got to be to remove the defence of reasonable punishment."

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       The Department for Education said the Government does not plan on changing the law on smacking, but stressed that it was committed to giving every child the best start in life.

       According to the Children Act 2004, it is unlawful to hit your child, except where it is "reasonable punishment", which is judged on a case-by-case basis.

       But if enough MPs back the amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the defence of smacking as a “reasonable punishment” would be completely outlawed in England.

       It was tabled by Labour MP Jess Asato in January.

       Unlike England and Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales do not have a legal defence against any kind of physical punishment.