Search Legislation

Hypnotism Act 1952

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

 Help about opening options

Opening Options

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Hypnotism Act 1952. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

Legislation Crest

Hypnotism Act 1952

1952 CHAPTER 46 15 and 16 Geo 6 and 1 Eliz 2

An Act to regulate the demonstration of hypnotic phenomena for purposes of public entertainment.

[1st August, 1952]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Act: functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.) (16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1 Table B16

1 Control of demonstrations of hypnotism at places licensed for public entertainment.E+W+S

(1)Where under any enactment an authority in any area [F1in Scotland] have power to grant licences for the regulation of [F2theatres or other places of public amusement or public entertainment], any power conferred by any enactment to attach conditions to any such licence shall include power to attach conditions regulating or prohibiting the giving of an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism on any person at the place to which the licence relates.

F3(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 1(1) substituted (24.11.2005) by Licensing Act 2003 (c. 17), s. 201(2), Sch. 6 para. 26(2)(b) (with ss. 2(3), 15(2), 195); S.I. 2005/3056, art. 2(2)

2 Control of demonstrations of hypnotism at other places.E+W

(1)No person shall give an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism on any living person at or in connection with an entertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on payment or otherwise, at any place [F4, unless—

(a)the controlling authority have authorised that exhibition, demonstration or performance under this section, or

(b)the place is in Scotland and a licence mentioned in section 1 of this Act is in force in relation to it.]

[F5(1A)The foregoing subsection shall not apply to an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism that takes place in the course of a performance of a play (within the meaning of the Theatres Act 1968) given [F6 at premises in Scotland in respect of which a licence under that Act is in force].]

(2)Any authorisation under this section may be made subject to any conditions.

(3)If a person gives any exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism in contravention of this section, or in contravention of any conditions attached to an authorisation under this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F7level 3 on the standard scale].

[F8(3A)A function conferred by this section on a licensing authority is, for the purposes of section 7 of the Licensing Act 2003 (exercise and delegation by licensing authority of licensing functions), to be treated as a licensing function within the meaning of that Act.]

[F9(4)In this section—

controlling authority ” means—

(a)in relation to a place in England and Wales, the licensing authority in whose area the place, or the greater or greatest part of it, is situated, and

(b)in relation to a place in Scotland, the authority having power to grant licences of the kind mentioned in section 1 in that area, and

licensing authority ” has the meaning given by the Licensing Act 2003. ]

Extent Information

E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only.

Textual Amendments

F5S. 2(1A) inserted by Theatres Act 1968 (c. 54), Sch. 2

[F102 Control of demonstrations of hypnotism at other places.S

(1)No person shall give an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism on any living person at or in connection with an entertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on payment or otherwise, at any place [F4, unless—

(a)the controlling authority have authorised that exhibition, demonstration or performance under this section, or

(b)the place is in Scotland and a licence mentioned in section 1 of this Act is in force in relation to it.]

[F15(1A)The foregoing subsection shall not apply to an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism that takes place in the course of a performance of a play (within the meaning of the Theatres Act 1968) given [F6at premises in Scotland in respect of which a licence under that Act is in force.]]

(2)Any authorisation under this section may be made subject to any conditions.

(3)If a person gives any exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism in contravention of this section, or in contravention of any conditions attached to an authorisation under this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F16level 3 on the standard scale].

[F8(3A)A function conferred by this section on a licensing authority is, for the purposes of section 7 of the Licensing Act 2003 (exercise and delegation by licensing authority of licensing functions), to be treated as a licensing function within the meaning of that Act.]

[F9(4)In this section—

controlling authority” means—

(a)in relation to a place in England and Wales, the licensing authority in whose area the place, or the greater or greatest part of it, is situated, and

(b)in relation to a place in Scotland, the authority having power to grant licences of the kind mentioned in section 1 in that area, and

licensing authority” has the meaning given by the Licensing Act 2003.]]

Extent Information

E2This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only.

Textual Amendments

F15S. 2(1A) inserted by Theatres Act 1968 (c. 54), Sch. 2

[F10[F112A Fee.E+W+S

The person making an application to a controlling authority, being the council of a London borough, for an authorisation under section 2 of this Act shall on making the application pay to the council such reasonable fee as the council may determine.]

Textual Amendments

F11S. 2A added (21.9.1994) by 1994 c. xii, ss. 1, 7(1)

3 Prohibition on hypnotising persons under twenty-one.E+W+S

A person who gives an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism on a person who has not attained the age of [F12eighteen] years at or in connection with an entertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on payment or otherwise, shall, unless he had reasonable cause to believe that that person had attained that age, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F13level 3 on the standard scale].

4Entry of premises.E+W+S

[F14Any police constable may enter any premises where any entertainment is held if he has reasonable cause to believe that any act is being or may be done in contravention of this Act.]

5 Saving for scientific purposes.E+W+S

Nothing in this Act shall prevent the exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism (otherwise than at or in connection with an entertainment) for scientific or research purposes or for the treatment of mental or physical disease.

6 Interpretation.E+W+S

In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires it, the following expression shall have the meaning hereby assigned to it, that is to say:—

hypnotism” includes hypnotism, mesmerism and any similar act or process which produces or is intended to produce in any person any form of induced sleep or trance in which the susceptibility of the mind of that person to suggestion or direction is increased or intended to be increased but does not include hypnotism, mesmerism or any such similar act or process which is self-induced.

7 Short title, extent and commencement.E+W+S

(1)This Act may be cited as the Hypnotism Act 1952.

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

(3)This Act shall come into force on the first day of April, nineteen hundred and fifty-three.]

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