What we want is the same protection for children that adults have and that is a question of law. It is not about smacking. It is about a severe caning and not many people support that. Children are protected against parental violence by the range of laws governing violent behaviour by adults and by the specific provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act. A parent alleged to have inflicted violence on a child can be charged under the civil law with common assault, or, in more serious cases, with offences such as causing actual or grievous bodily harm.
Conviction can lead to prison sentences.
The parent can say this is their child and, as long as they have behaved reasonably, as long as the punishment is reasonable, then they have a defence.