According to campaign group Be Reasonable’s analysis, the police have referred 365 parents, who were criminalised for smacking their children, to diversionary ‘re-education’ schemes since the law was introduced in 2022.
The group warned that the cost of implementing the Act in its first five years could be double the Government’s estimated £7.9 million.
Be Reasonable explained that there has been a “clear rise” in the number of social services contacts and assessments involving smacking since 2022, with a 112 per cent increase in cases where it was the sole factor.
As such, the group estimated that this could cost social services an extra £1.6 million each year.
Be Reasonable spokesman Simon Calvert stated: “The public sector is under enormous pressure, yet thousands of hours and millions of pounds are now being wasted on needless investigations into families where there is nothing wrong.
“This is a high price to pay for legislating political correctness. Social services staff should be free to focus on protecting children who are genuinely at risk.”