Smacking children should be completely banned, children’s commissioner for England Rachel de Souza has urged the Government.

Writing in The Observer, the former head teacher said it was a “necessary step” needed “to keep every child from harm”.

The law currently allows for “reasonable chastisement” of children.

Ms de Souza said she abhorred any kind of violence against children.

She said children are more vulnerable than adults and therefore deserve protection.

She also argued that bans on smacking children are already in place in Scotland and Wales, adding: “It has taught us that we need to take that step in England too.”

She wrote: “We have seen too many cases where children have been harmed and died at the hands of the people who should love and care for them most. 

“A ban on smacking is a necessary step to keep children safe and to stop lower-level violence from escalating.”

Children’s charity the NSPCC has long called for a ban on physical punishment of children.

Earlier this year, it highlighted a survey that showed 71% of people think hitting or shaking a child is wrong.

“If an adult hits another adult because they don’t approve of how they’re behaving, it’s described as physical assault,” said NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless. 

“But when a parent takes the same action against their child, the law considers it acceptable. This is not right.”