LEGISLATION which will ban smacking in Scotland has been given Royal Assent.
The move will give children the same protection from violence as adults by removing the defence of justifiable assault in Scots law.
MSPs voted by 84 to 29 to pass the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood last month, with the Scottish Tories the only party not to support it.
Having been granted Royal Assent, it will now come into force within 12 months.
Scottish Green MSP John Finnie, who brought forward the legislation, said the Act would send a “strong message” that violence is never acceptable.
“This sends a strong message that violence is never acceptable in any setting, and that our children deserve at least the same legal protections that adults enjoy,” said Finnie.
“Physical punishment has no place in 21st century Scotland. The international evidence tells
us that it can have serious impacts on children, and that it is not effective.”
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