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Protection of Children Act 1978
1978 CHAPTER 37
An Act to prevent the exploitation of children by making indecent photographs of them; and to penalise the distribution, showing and advertisement of such indecent photographs.[20th July 1978]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Indecent photographs of children. 1—(1) It is an offence for a person—
- (a) to take, or permit to be taken, any indecent photograph of a child (meaning in this Act a person under the age of 16); or
- (b) to distribute or show such indecent photographs; or
- (c) to have in his possession such indecent photographs, with a view to their being distributed or shown by himself or others ; or
- (d) to publish or cause to be published any advertisement likely to be understood as conveying that the advertiser distributes or shows such indecent photographs, or intends to do so.
(2) For purposes of this Act, a person is to be regarded as distributing an indecent photograph if he parts with possession of it to, or exposes or offers it for acquisition by, another person.
(3) Proceedings for an offence under this Act shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
