HYPNOTISM ACT 1952

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

[1 August 1952]

Northern Ireland. This Act does not apply.

1 Control of demonstrations of hypnotism at places licensed for public entertainment

(1) Where under any enactment an authority in any area have power to grant licences for the regulation of places kept or ordinarily used for public dancing, singing, music or other public entertainment of the like kind, 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 is granted.

(2) In the application of this section to Scotland, for the reference to places kept or ordinarily used for public dancing, singing, music or other public entertainment of the like kind there shall be substituted a reference to theatres or other places of public amusement or public entertainment.

2 Control of demonstrations of hypnotism at other places

(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 in relation to which such a licence as is mentioned in section one of this Act is not in force unless the controlling authority have authorised that exhibition, demonstration or performance.

[(1A) The foregoing subsection shall not apply to an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism that takes place in the course of a performance or play (within the meaning of the Theatres Act 1968) given either at premises in respect of which a licence under that Act is in force or under the authority of any such letters patent as are mentioned in section 17(1) of that Act.]

(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 [level 3 on the standard scale].

[(4) In this section, the expression "controlling authority" in relation to a place in any area means the authority having power to grant licences of the kind mentioned in section 1 above in that area.]

[2A Fee

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.]

3 Prohibition on hypnotising persons under [eighteen]

A person who gives an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism on a person who has not attained the ages of [eighteen 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 [level 3 on the standard scale].

4 Entry of premises

Any 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

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

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 similar act or process which is self-induced.

7 Short title, extent and commencement

(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.