Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976

11 Causing or encouraging seduction, prostitution, etc., of girl under 16

(1) If any person having the custody, charge or care of a girl under the age of 16 years causes or encourages the seduction or prostitution of, unlawful sexual intercourse with, or the commission of an indecent assault upon, her he shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed to have caused or encouraged the seduction or prostitution of, unlawful sexual intercourse with or the commission of an indecent assault upon, a girl who has been seduced or indecently assaulted, or who has had unlawful sexual intercourse or who has become a prostitute, if he has knowingly allowed her to consort with, or to enter or continue in the employment of, any prostitute or person of known immoral character.

(3) The foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to a contravention of section 5 of this Act in like manner as they apply to an indecent assault, and any reference to the commission of such an assault or to being indecently assaulted shall be construed accordingly.

(4) Where on the trial of any offence under this Act it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the seduction or prostitution of a girl under the age of 16 years has been caused, encouraged or favoured by her father, mother, guardian, master of mistress, it shall be in the power of the court to divest such person of all authority over her, and to appoint any person or persons willing to take charge of such girl to be her guardian until she has attained the age of 21 years, or such less age as the court may direct.

(5) The High Court of Justiciary shall have the power from time to time to rescind or vary an order under subsection (4) above by the appointment of any other person or persons as such guardian, or in any other respect.