Norwegian arrested for smacking

Here's a case from Norway of a stepfather who tried to do the right thing and ended up in court - and nearly convicted of a crime.

His two stepsons had been unruly for some time and had hit classmates. After giving them warnings, he finally put them over his knee and smacked their backsides three times with his bare hand. For this he was arrested!

One judge wanted to convict him, but was overruled by the other two judges.

I'm not someone who believes in the "spare the rod, spoil the child" motto, but I do think it's up to parents to decide when "smacking" (a slap on the bum or back of the legs) is an appropriate punishment.

Something's wrong when the police can arrest a father for responsibly punishing his own sons.