Can You Smack a Child? What the Law Says in the UK.

Research shows that smacking a child can be physically and emotionally damaging and it’s not an effective way to discipline them. In some parts of the UK, such as Scotland and Wales, smacking a child is against the law, even if you’re just visiting. But in England and Northern Ireland, the law is different - parents can still claim a defence of ‘reasonable punishment’.In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda speak to Amy Packham, a criminal barrister, Deputy Head of Lamb Building chambers, and a part-time Crown Court judge.Together, they explore:·       Why the law around smacking children is different in different parts of the UK·       Whether teachers or other adults are ever allowed to smack a child·       What the law means by ‘reasonable punishment’·       What happens if someone reports a parent for smacking their child·       How the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child fits into all of thisIf a child tells you they are being hit or they don’t feel safe, it’s important to act:➡️ Call 999 in an emergency➡️ Speak to an adult you trust➡️ Or contact a confidential service like Childline: 0800 1111➡️ If you're under 18 and want free, confidential advice, you can also call the NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected] References and ResourcesFind your local social care team through your local council.NSPCC helpline (via phone, email or online form)Kids Law Interview Why are Children’s Rights in Scotland the Strongest in the UK?S.58 The Children Act 2004NSPCC Survey 2024The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) Report 2024Children’s Commissioner for EnglandArticle 19 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!

WARNING: Adults might want to listen to this episode before listening with young children, as we mention the words self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders in the context of examples of harmful online content.What are the legal implications for young people becoming influencers online? What happens if brands offer them sponsorship deals? These activities raise commercial, consent and ownership legal issues.Alma-Constance and Lucinda speak to Steve Kuncewicz, Partner at Glaisyers Solicitors. Steve is an expert in the law that affects the creative, digital and marketing world and he joined the our hosts to talk about the main legal issues affecting children creators of online content in the UK including:·      General legal issues affecting online content creators·      Young people and contracts and sponsorship deals·      Social media platforms responsibilities and the Online Safety Act ·      Challenges when parents involve their children in content creation·      Cases and laws in USA lto protect young online content creators When Steve was 10  years old, he said he was geeky and still is! He wanted to be a writer and imagined he would be Batman!References and ResourcesSteve Kuncewicz Child Content Creators: What Is Protecting Minors from Exploitation?Teen Vogue article 2023: Influencer Parents and The Kids Who Had Their Childhood Made Into ContentUCLA Law ReviewChild Influencers and Commercial ChallengesKids Law podcasts on other related topics:How can laws protect creative works?How the ICO works to protect children online                           How young people can be protected online NSPCC perspectiveDoes the law control when a child can work and get paid for it?Online Safety Act - what is being done to keep children safe onlineIf you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!

There are laws which are supposed to protect our environment, but they haven’t stopped pollution and the destruction of the natural world. So, some rivers and forests gave been granted enforceable legal rights to stop this habitat destruction. Alma-Constance and Lucinda discussed this with one of the co-founders of the Lawyers for Nature organisation: Paul Powlesland a barrister at Garden Court Chambers; and he told us:·      Why Lawyers for Nature was founded·      How having legal rights gives nature a voice in the legal system·      About the cases he has been involved with to help local communities protect   their trees·      The examples from other countries where rivers and nature have been given legal rights ·      About being the self – appointed guardian of the river Roding in East London·      Several ways that we can become involved in protecting nature in our communities.References and Resourceshttps://www.lawyersfornature.com/about/Brontie AnsellDavid HunterPaul PowleslandNature in Court – as Jury OathFaith In Nature  Universal Declaration of River RightsEcoJurisprudence World wide examplesWebinar Strategic litigation: how charities can use the law as a force for good Client EarthRiver Roding Trust  If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!

That's right... the age of criminal responsibility for children in England & Wales is only 10 years old! This is the lowest age in Europe and one of the lowest worldwide. Alma- Constance and Lucinda talk to Kirsty Brimelow KC, an expert in international human rights, public and criminal law and recently elected Vice Chair of the Bar Council for 2025. She explained:How the law of criminal responsibility has come aboutThe sorts of crimes that children are charged withThe impact on the lives of children who are put into the criminal justice systemThe attempts to raise the age of criminal responsibilityAbout the countries which are seen as effective examples in how they approach juvenile justice The role international organisations play in seeking to raise the age When Kirsty was eight she was inspired to think about the importance of fairness and justice in everyday life.References and ResourcesKirsty Brimelow KCKids Law Episode Sir Max Hill KC, 'Can you really become a criminal at 10?'when he was the Director of Public Prosecutions. Kids Law episode Why are Children’s Rights in Scotland the Strongest in the UK? With Bruce Adamson,when he was the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland.Kirsty Brimelow KC Kids Law episode 'Do witches really exist and how do lawyers get involved?'Age of criminal responsibilityhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8565619.stm?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://archive.crin.org/en/home/ages.html https://www.unicef.org/eca/reports/systematic-responses-children-under-minimum-age-criminal-responsibilityhttps://www.unicef.org/lac/media/2771/file/PDF%20Minimum%20age%20for%20criminal%20responsibility.pdfIf you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda look back at Series 4 where they've been talking to people working in the legal system who explain how laws affect us in everyday life, particularly for children and young people. The 12 episodes cover:the new Online Safety Act,alternative ways to resolve disputes, and why the Old Bailey is so famous, how the law affects children when someone dies and if the king has to obey the law,the role of ethics in law, how human rights can be used to protect children and the difference between human rights and civil liberties,why law centres were set up and how they support people in the community,how to practice law without going to university; and the most important IP right that affects young people. Written, edited and produced by Lucinda AclandWe would like to say a big thank you to all our Series 4 speakers for supporting our project, and especially you, our listeners.   If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!

After a major tragedy, public inquiries look at what happened, why it happened, and who is to blame, and what could be done to prevent this happening again.   One of the most notorious is the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry, where many innocent people were falsely accused of crimes. Alma and Lucinda spoke to Flora Page, a barrister at 23 Essex Street Chambers,  she recently represented the sub postmasters in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.  She told us: ·      Why inquiries are so important when there has been a major tragedy ·      How they ensure organisations are held accountable for their actions·      Her role in the post office horizon IT Inquiry and why lawyers are involved?  ·      How the voices of children and young people can be heard in an InquiryWhen Flora was 10 she liked sailing and acting and thought she wanted to be a geologist!Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.References and ResourcesWhat is the Role of Ethics in Law (Richard Moorhead Series 4 Episode 8)Watch Flora Page interview witnesses  with commentaryPost Office Horizon IT inquiry Livestream videoshttps://www.23es.com/barrister/flora-page/UK Covid-19 inquiry  Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.Inquiries Act 2005. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/public-inquirieshttps://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06410/If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!

The Old Bailey is the nickname  for the court that hears the most serious criminal cases in England and Wales.Alma and Lucinda spoke to Her Honour, Judge Anuja Dhir KC, the first non-white judge to be appointed. She tells us:about her role as a judge and what it's like to work in such a historic court how  children and young people are involved in the criminal justice systemthe special procedures that are used to take their evidence and support themwhat it was like changing from being a barrister to a judgeher experience of diversity in the legal professionWhen Anuja was 10 she wanted to be a manager in a shoe shop!Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.References and ResourcesHH Anuja Dhir KCJudicial Appointment The Old Bailey. - The public galleries are open Monday - Friday 09:55 to 12:40 and 13:55 - 15:40. Visitors must be over 14. Proof of age may be requested by security.If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!

WARNING: This episode mentions death and dying in the context of the legal implications of death.We know that law affects us during our lives but what happens when we die to all our things social media accounts even our pets?  And how are children affected? Alma and Lucinda talk to Melinda Giles, the Head of the Private Client and Court of Protection department at Giles Wilson Law Ltd about the law and procedures  when we die.She tells us·      What is the legal process following death and what happens to our things·      Why wills are important and what happens if you don’t make one ·      What happens to pets and our online presence accounts·      How these laws affect children·      How she advises and supports families in complex situationsWhen Melinda was 10 years old she loved reading so much she would hide under the covers with a torch at bedtime. She wanted to write and illustrate books at a beautiful desk!Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.References and Resourceshttps://www.melindagiles.com/aboutYouTube channel TVLawyer X @MelindaGilesLawCruse Bereavement Care supports people who are bereaved and produces useful information and advice.                                                                                                         If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!

Adults might want to listen to this episode before listening with young children, as we mention the words self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders in the context of examples of harmful online content.The new Act aims to protect young people from harmful content online and puts new obligations on online platforms to make them more responsible for their users safety.Alma - Constance and Lucinda speak to Jess Smith, Ofcom's online safety director, who explains: ·      How the Act will stop children being harmed by online activity.·      What tech companies will have to do to protect vulnerable people.·      The ways to ensure age checks and change inappropriate algorithms.·      How children have been involved to discuss their online experiences.·      What Ofcom can do to ensure that the online providers obey with the new laws?When Jess was 10 years old, she says she was very chatty, into climbing trees and cartwheels and really liked reading.  Her ambition was to be a professional horse rider competing in the Olympics. Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.Resources and ReferencesOfcomWhat the Online Safety Act does Links for places that offer children support if they see harmful content online:·       Internet Matters·       NSPCC·       Childnet·       SWG4LIf you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!

At the Future Lawyer UK Conference, co-host Alma-Constance interviews Richard Susskind on Law, Tech and How It Affects Kids As They Grow Up. In this special interview, questions such as how AI will affect how laws are drafted will be explored!Professor Richard Susskind OBE KC (Hon) is half-lawyer, half-technologist. He has written 10 books and his work has been translated into 18 languages. His eleventh book, How to Think About AI: A Guide to the Perplexed, is to be published in the coming year. With his son, Daniel, he co-authored The Future of the Professions (2015, 2022), which was an FT Book of the Year. He is President of the Society for Computers and Law and, for 25 years, was Technology Adviser to the Lord Chief Justice of England. He wrote his PhD on artificial intelligence and the law at Oxford University in the early 1980s.If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at [email protected], contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends. See you soon in the next episode!