Search Legislation

Children and Young Persons Act 1933

 Help about what version

What Version

  • Latest available (Revised)
  • Original (As enacted)
 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes to legislation:

Children and Young Persons Act 1933, Cross Heading: Offences is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Part I Crossheading Offences:

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

OffencesE+W

1 Cruelty to persons under sixteen.E+W

(1)If any person who has attained the age of sixteen years and [F1has responsibility for] any child or young person under that age, wilfully assaults, ill-treats [F2(whether physically or otherwise)], neglects, abandons, or exposes him, or causes or procures him to be assaulted, ill-treated [F3(whether physically or otherwise)], neglected, abandoned, or exposed, in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health [F4(whether the suffering or injury is of a physical or a psychological nature)], that person shall be guilty of [F5an offence], and shall be liable—

(a)on conviction on indictment, to a fine . . . F6 or alternatively, . . . F7, or in addition thereto, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding [F814] years;

(b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F9£400] pounds, or alternatively, . . . F7, or in addition thereto, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months.

(2)For the purposes of this section—

(a)a parent or other person legally liable to maintain a child or young person [F10, or the legal guardian of a child or young person,] shall be deemed to have neglected him in a manner likely to cause injury to his health if he has failed to provide adequate food, clothing, medical aid or lodging for him, or if, having been unable otherwise to provide such food, clothing, medical aid or lodging, he has failed to take steps to procure it to be provided under [F11the enactments applicable in that behalf];

(b)where it is proved that the death of an infant under three years of age was caused by suffocation (not being suffocation caused by disease or the presence of any foreign body in the throat or air passages of the infant) while the infant was in bed with some other person who has attained the age of sixteen years, that other person shall, if he was, when he went to bed [F12or at any later time before the suffocation], under the influence of drink [F13or a prohibited drug], be deemed to have neglected the infant in a manner likely to cause injury to its health.

[F14(2A)The reference in subsection (2)(b) to the infant being “in bed” with another (“the adult”) includes a reference to the infant lying next to the adult in or on any kind of furniture or surface being used by the adult for the purpose of sleeping (and the reference to the time when the adult “went to bed” is to be read accordingly).

(2B)A drug is a prohibited drug for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) in relation to a person if the person's possession of the drug immediately before taking it constituted an offence under section 5(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.]

(3)A person may be convicted of an offence under this section—

(a)notwithstanding that actual suffering or injury to health, or the likelihood of actual suffering or injury to health, was obviated by the action of another person;

(b)notwithstanding the death of the child or young person in question.

(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15

(5),(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16

(7)F17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 1(1) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 66(2)(a), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(k)

F3Words in s. 1(1) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 66(2)(b), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(k)

F4Words in s. 1(1) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 66(3), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(k)

F5Words in s. 1(1) substituted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 66(4), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(k)

F11Words substituted by S.I. 1951/174 (1951 I, p. 1369), Sch.

F12Words in s. 1(2)(b) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 66(5)(a), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(k)

F13Words in s. 1(2)(b) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 66(5)(b), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(k)

F14S. 1(2A)(2B) inserted (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 66(6), 88(1) (with s. 86(10)); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(k)

F17S. 1(7) repealed (15.1.2005) by Children Act 2004 (c. 31), ss. 58(5), 64, 67(7)(f), Sch. 5 Pt. 5

2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F18E+W

Textual Amendments

F18Ss. 2, 3(2) repealed by Sexual Offences Act 1956 (c. 69). s. 52, Sch. 4

3 Allowing persons under sixteen to be in brothels.E+W

(1)If any person having [F19responsibility for] a child or young person who has attained the age of four years and is under the age of sixteen years, allows that child or young person to reside in or to frequent a brothel, he shall be [F20liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F21level 2 on the standard scale]], or alternatively . . . F22 or in addition thereto, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months.

(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F23

4 Causing or allowing persons under sixteen to be used for begging.E+W

(1)If any person causes or procures any child or young person under the age of sixteen years or, having [F24responsibility for] such a child or young person, allows him to be in any street, premises, or place for the purpose of begging or receiving alms, or of inducing the giving of alms (whether or not there is any pretence of singing, playing, performing, offering anything for sale, or otherwise) he shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding [F25level 2 on the standard scale], or alternatively, . . . F26 or in addition thereto, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months.

(2)If a person having [F24responsibility for] a child or young person is charged with an offence under this section, and it is proved that the child or young person was in any street, premises, or place for any such purpose as aforesaid, and that the person charged allowed the child or young person to be in the street, premises, or place, he shall be presumed to have allowed him to be in the street, premises, or place for that purpose unless the contrary is proved.

(3)If any person while singing, playing, performing or offering anything for sale in a street or public place has with him a child who has been lent or hired out to him, the child shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be in that street or place for the purpose of inducing the giving of alms.

5 Giving intoxicating liquor to children under five.E+W

If any person gives, or causes to be given, to any child under the age of five years any [F27 alcohol (within the meaning given by section 191 of the Licensing Act 2003, but disregarding subsection (1)(f) to (i) of that section)], except upon the order of a duly qualified medical practitioner, or in case of sickness, apprehended sickness, or other urgent cause, he shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding [F28level 1 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

F27Words in s. 5 substituted (24.11.2005) by Licensing Act 2003 (c. 17), ss. 198, 201, Sch. 6 para. 13 (with ss. 2(3), 15(2), 195); S.I. 2005/3056, art. 2(2)

6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F29E+W

Textual Amendments

7 Sale of tobacco, &c. to persons under [F30eighteen].E+W

(1)Any person who sells to a person [F31. . .] under the age of [F32eighteen] years any tobacco or cigarette papers, whether for his own use or not, shall be liable, [F33on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.]

F34[(1A)It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) above to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.]

(2)If on complaint to a [F35magistrates' court] it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that any automatic machine for the sale of tobacco kept on any premises [F36has been used by any person] under the age of [F32eighteen] years, the court [F37shall] order the owner of the machine, or the person on whose premises the machine is kept, to take such precautions to prevent the machine being so used as may be specified in the order or, if necessary, to remove the machine, within such time as may be specified in the order, and if any person against whom such an order has been made fails to comply therewith, he shall be liable, on summary conviction, [F38to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.]

(3)It shall be the duty of a constable and of a park-keeper being in uniform to seize any tobacco or cigarette papers in the possession of any person apparently under the age of sixteen years whom he finds smoking in any street or public place, and any tobacco or cigarette papers so seized shall be disposed of, if seized by a constable, in such manner as the [F39local policing body] may direct, and if seized by a park-keeper, in such manner as the authority or person by whom he was appointed may direct.

(4)Nothing in this section shall make it an offence to sell tobacco or cigarette papers to, or shall authorise the seizure of tobacco or cigarette papers in the possession of, any person who is at the time employed by a manufacturer of or dealer in tobacco, either wholesale or retail, for the purposes of his business, or is a boy messenger in uniform in the employment of a messenger company and employed as such at the time.

(5)For the purposes of this section the expression “tobacco” includes cigarettes [F40any product containing tobacco and intended for oral or nasal use] and smoking mixtures intended as a substitute for tobacco, and the expression “cigarettes” includes cut tobacco rolled up in paper, tobacco leaf, or other material in such form as to be capable of immediate use for smoking.

Textual Amendments

F30Word in s. 7 sidenote substituted (1.10.2007) by The Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc.) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/767), art. 2(a) (with effect as mentioned in art. 1)

F32Word in s. 7(1)(2) substituted (1.10.2007) by The Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc.) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/767), art. 2(a) (with effect as mentioned in art. 1)

F35Words in s. 7(2) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 72; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(bb)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2S. 7: power to amend conferred (19.7.2006 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.7.2007) by Health Act 2006 (c. 28), ss. 13, 83; S.I. 2007/1375, art. 2(a)

C3S. 7: power to amend conferred by 2006 c. 28, s. 13(1)-(1B) (as substituted (24.5.2018) by The Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/644), arts. 1(1), 42(2)(a))

C4Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 35 (in relation to liability on first and subsequent convictions), 38 (increase of fines) and 46 (substitution of references to levels on the standard scale) apply (E.W.)

8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F41E+W

Textual Amendments

9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F42E+W

Textual Amendments

F4310. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W

Textual Amendments

11†Exposing children under seven to risk of burning.E+W

If any person who has attained the age of sixteen years, having [F44responsibility for] any child under the age of [F45twelve] years, allows the child to be in any room containing an open fire grate [F46or any heating appliance liable to cause injury to a person by contact therewith] not sufficiently protected to guard against the risk of his being burnt or scalded without taking reasonable precautions against that risk, and by reason thereof the child is killed or suffers serious injury, he shall on summary conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding [F47level 1 on the standard scale]:

Provided that neither this section, not any proceedings taken thereunder, shall affect any liability of any such person to be proceeded against by indictment for any indictable offence.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6Unreliable marginal note.

C7Words in s. 11 substituted by 1952 c. 50, continued to have effect (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(2), Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 23.

12 Failing to provide for safety of children at entertainments.E+W

(1)Where there is provided in any building an entertainment for children, or an entertainment at which the majority of the persons attending are children, then, if the number of children attending the entertainment exceeds one hundred, it shall be the duty of the person providing the entertainment to station and keep stationed wherever necessary a sufficient number of adult attendants, properly instructed as to their duties, to prevent more children or other persons being admitted to the building, or to any part thereof, than the building or part can properly accommodate, and to control the movement of the children and other persons admitted while entering and leaving the building or any part thereof, and to take all other reasonable precautions for the safety of the children.

(2)Where the occupier of a building permits, for hire or reward, the building to be used for the purpose of an entertainment, he shall take all reasonable steps to secure the observance of the provisions of this section.

(3)If any person on whom any obligation is imposed by this section fails to fulfil that obligation, he shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding, in the case of a first offence fifty pounds, and in the case of a second or subsequent offence one hundred pounds F48. . . .

(4)A constable may enter any building in which he has reason to believe that such an entertainment as aforesaid is being, or is about to be, provided, with a view to seeing whether the provisions of this section are carried into effect, and an officer authorised for the purpose by an authority by whom licences are granted under any of the enactments referred to in the last foregoing subsection shall have the like power of entering any building so licensed by that authority.

(5)The institution of proceedings under this section shall—

[F49(a)in the case of a building in respect of which a premises licence authorising the provision of regulated entertainment has effect, be the duty of the relevant licensing authority;]

(b)in any other case, be the duty of the [F50chief officer of police].

[F51(5A)For the purposes of this section—

(a)“premises licence” and “the provision of regulated entertainment” have the meaning given by the Licensing Act 2003, and

(b)the relevant licensing authority”, in relation to a building in respect of which a premises licence has effect, means the relevant licensing authority in relation to that building under section 12 of that Act.]

(6)This section shall not apply to any entertainment given in a private dwelling-house.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C8S. 12: functions of local authority not to be the responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.) (16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1 B1 35

C9Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 35 (in relation to liability on first and subsequent convictions), 38 (increase of fines) and 46 (substitution of references to levels on the standard scale) apply (E.W.)

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources