Indecency with Children Act 1960 (repealed)

Indecency with Children Act 1960

1960 CHAPTER 33 8 and 9 Eliz 2

An Act to make further provision for the punishment of indecent conduct towards young children, and to increase the maximum sentence of imprisonment under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, for certain existing offences against young girls.

[2nd June 1960]

1 Indecent conduct towards young child. E+W

(1) Any person who commits an act of gross indecency with or towards a child under the age of [F1 sixteen], or who incites a child under that age to such an act with him or another, shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F2 ten years], or on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding [F3 £400], or to both.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

(3) References in the M1 Children and Young Persons Act 1933, . . . F5 to the offences mentioned in the First Schedule to that Act shall include offences under this section.

(4) Offences under this section shall be deemed to be offences against the person for the purpose of section three of the M2 Visiting Forces Act 1952 (which restricts the trial by United Kingdom courts of offenders connected with visiting forces).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 1(1) substituted (11.1.2001) by 2000 c. 43, s. 39; S.I. 2000/3302, art. 3

F2 Words in s. 1(1) substituted (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 52; S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2(1)(k) (with art. 5(1)(a))

F3 Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1967 (c. 80), s. 92, Sch. 3 Pt. I

F4 S. 1(2) repealed by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119(2), Sch. 7 Pt. V

F5 Words repealed by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 119(2), Sch. 7 Pt. V

Marginal Citations

M1 1933 c. 12.

M2 1952 c. 67.

2 Length of imprisonment for certain offences against young girls. E+W

(1) The maximum term of imprisonment to which a person is liable under the M3 Sexual Offences Act 1956, if convicted on indictment of an attempt to have unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of thirteen, [F6 shall be seven years.]

(2) In the case of a person convicted of attempted incest with a girl who is stated in the indictment and proved to have been at the time under the age of thirteen the foregoing subsection shall apply as it applies in the case of a person convicted of an attempt to have unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under that age.

[F7 (3) Accordingly in the Second Schedule to that Act, for the words “two years” in the third column in items 2 (b) , 14 (b) and 17 (i), there shall be substituted—

(a) in item 2 (b) the words “seven years” ;

(b) in item 14 (b) the words “if with a girl under thirteen who is stated to have been so in the indictment, seven years; otherwise two years”.

(c) in item 17 (i) the words “if on a girl under thirteen who is stated to have been so in the indictment, five years ; otherwise two years”.]

(4) This section shall not apply to offences committed on or before the date this Act is passed.

Textual Amendments

F6 Words substituted by Sexual Offenders Act 1985 (c. 44, SIF 39:5), s. 5(2)

F7 S. 2(3) repealed in part by Sexual Offences Act 1985 (c. 44, SIF 39:5), s. 5(3), Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 The text of s. 2(3) is in the form in which it was originally enacted: except as indicated it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Marginal Citations

M3 1956 c. 69.

3 Short title, extent and commencement. E+W

(1) This Act may be cited as the Indecency with Children Act 1960.

(2) This Act shall not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.

(3) This Act shall come into force at the expiration of one month beginning with the date it is passed.