Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968
An Act to re-enact with amendments the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1950, and for purposes connected with that matter.
[12th December 1968]
Part I (ss. 1 ‐ 19) rep. by 1995 NI 2
PART II
PREVENTION OF CRUELTY AND EXPOSURE TO MORAL AND PHYSICAL DANGER
Miscellaneous offences in relation to children and young persons
20. Cruelty to persons under sixteen.
— (1) If any person who has attained the age of sixteen and has
[ responsibility for ] any child or young person under that age, wilfully assaults, ill-treats, neglects, abandons or exposes him, or causes or procures him to be assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health (including injury to or loss of sight, or hearing, or limb, or organ of the body, and any mental derangement), that person shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable
— (a)
on conviction on indictment, to
[ an unlimited fine ] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
[ ten years ] or to both;
(b)
on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding
[ level 3 on the standard scale ] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
(2) For the purposes of this section — (a)
a parent or other person legally liable to maintain a child or young person
[ , 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 the [Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972
1972 NI 14
] or
[ Part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 ] ;
(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, that other person shall, if he was, whilst in bed, under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, be deemed to have neglected the infant in a manner likely to cause injury to its health.
(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.
Subs. (4), (5) rep. by 1989 NI 15
(6) Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the right of any parent, teacher, or other person having the lawful control or charge of a child or young person to administer punishment to him.
21. Causing or encouraging seduction or prostitution of girl under seventeen.
— (1) If any person having
[ responsibility for ] a girl under the age of seventeen causes or encourages the commission of unlawful sexual intercourse with,
... or the commission of an indecent assault upon, her, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable
— (a)
on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years;
(b)
on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding
[ level 3 on the standard scale ] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
(2) For the purposes of this section a person shall be deemed to have caused or encouraged the commission of unlawful sexual intercourse with, or of an indecent assault upon, ... a girl who has had unlawful sexual intercourse, or has been indecently assaulted, ... 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. 22. Indecent conduct towards child.
Any person who commits an act of gross indecency with or towards a child, or who incites a child to such an act with him or another, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable
—
(a) on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [ ten ] years;
(b)
on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding
[ level 3 on the standard scale ] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
[ (2) In this section, “ child ” means a person under the age of seventeen. ]
23. Allowing children or young persons to be in brothels.
If any person having
[ responsibility for ] a child who has attained the age of four, or of a young person, allows that child or young person to reside in or to frequent a brothel, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable
— (a)
on conviction on indictment to
[ an unlimited fine ] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both;
(b)
on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding
[ level 3 on the standard scale ] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
24. Causing or allowing persons under sixteen to be used for begging.
— (1) If any person causes or procures any child or young person under the age of sixteen or, having
[ responsibility 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 be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding
[ level 3 on the standard scale ] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
(2) If a person having [ responsibility 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. 25. Giving intoxicating liquor to children.
If any person gives, or causes to be given, to any child any intoxicating liquor, except upon the order of a doctor or in case of sickness, apprehended sickness, or other urgent cause, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding
[ level 3 on the standard scale ] .
S. 26 rep. by 1971 c. 13 (NI)
Ss. 27, 28 rep. by 1995 NI 2
29. Exposing children under twelve to risk of burning.
— (1) If any person who has attained the age of sixteen, having
[ responsibility for ] any child under the age of twelve, allows the child to be in any room containing an open fire or 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, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding
[ level 1 on the standard scale ] .
(2) Where by reason of a contravention of subsection (1) a child is killed or suffers serious injury no proceedings taken under this section shall affect any liability of any such person to be proceeded against by indictment for any indictable offence. 30. Failing to provide for safety of children at entertainments.
— (1) Where there is provided in any premises 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 premises, or to any part thereof, than the premises or part can properly accommodate, and to control the movement of the children and other persons admitted while entering and leaving the premises or any part thereof, and to take all other reasonable precautions for the safety of the children.
(2) Where the occupier of any premises permits, for hire or reward, the premises 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 guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [ level 3 on the standard scale ] , and also, if the premises in which the entertainment is given are licensed ... under any of the enactments relating to the licensing of theatres or other premises used for public entertainment, the licence shall be liable to be revoked by the authority by whom the licence was granted or by any authority having jurisdiction in relation to any application for the transfer or renewal of the licence.
(4) A constable may enter any premises 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 or are about to be 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 subsection (3) shall have the like power of entering any premises so licensed by that authority; and if any person wilfully obstructs any constable or officer in the due exercise of any powers conferred on him by or under this subsection he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [ level 3 on the standard scale ] .
(5) A person (other than a constable in uniform) exercising any power of entry conferred by this section shall, if so required, produce his credentials.
(6) This section shall not apply to any entertainment given in a private dwelling-house.
Special provisions as to prosecutions for offences specified in Schedule 1
S. 31 rep. by 1989 NI 12
S. 32 rep. by 1995 NI 2
33. Mode of charging offences.
— (1) Where a person is charged with committing any of the offences mentioned in Schedule 1 in respect
— (a)
of two or more children;
(b)
of a child together with one or more than one young person;
(c)
of two or more young persons;
(d)
of a young person together with one or more than one child; or
(e)
of two or more children together with two or more young persons;
the same complaint or summons may charge the offence in respect of all or any of them, but the person shall not, if he is summarily convicted, be liable to a separate penalty in respect of each child or young person except upon separate complaints.
(2) [ The same complaint or summons may charge any person ] with the offences of assault, ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure, together or separately, and may charge him with committing all or any of those offences in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health, alternatively or together, but when those offences are charged together the person charged shall not, if he is summarily convicted, be liable to a separate penalty for each.
(3) When any offence mentioned in Schedule 1 charged against any person is a continuous offence, it shall not be necessary to specify in the complaint, summons, or indictment the dates of the acts constituting the offence, except that, where the offence is one to which [ Article 19(1)(a) of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 ] applies, the complaint and the summons shall specify that the cause of complaint still continues or ceased to continue within the six months immediately preceding the date of the complaint. S. 34 rep. by 1989 NI 12
General
35. Notification as to proceedings under Part II
— (1) Where on the complaint of any person charging an offence under this Part with respect to a child or young person a summons or warrant is issued, the complainant shall as soon as reasonably practicable notify to the appropriate authority
— (a)
the nature of the charge, and
(b)
the name and address of the child, so far as known to the complainant.
(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply where the complainant is the appropriate authority.
(3) In this section “ the appropriate authority ” means the authority within whose area the child's address is or, if that is not known, the authority within whose area the offence is alleged to have been committed, and “ authority ” and “ area ” have the same meaning as in the Children Order. 36. Interpretation of Part II.
— (1) For the purposes of this Part, the following shall be presumed to have responsibility for a child or young person
— (a)
any person who
—
(i) has parental responsibility for him (within the meaning of the Children Order); or
(ii) is otherwise legally liable to maintain him; and (b)
any person who has care of him.
(2) A person who is presumed to be responsible for a child or young person by virtue of subsection (1)(a) shall not be taken to have ceased to be responsible for him by reason only that he does not have care of him.
Part III (ss. 37 ‐ 47) rep. by 1995 NI 2
PART IV
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN RELATION TO CRIMINAL AND SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS
Ss. 48 ‐ 62 rep. by 1998 NI 9
Juvenile courts
63. Constitution of juvenile courts.
Courts of summary jurisdiction constituted in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 2 and sitting for the purpose of hearing any charge against a child or young person or for the purpose of exercising any other jurisdiction conferred on juvenile courts by or under this or any other Act, shall be known as juvenile courts and in whatever place sitting shall be deemed to be courts of summary jurisdiction.
Ss. 64 ‐ 79 rep. by 1998 NI 9
S. 80 rep. by 1996 NI 24
Ss. 81 ‐ 91 rep. by 1998 NI 9
S. 92 rep. by 1995 NI 2
PART V
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN NEED OF CARE, PROTECTION OR CONTROL
Ss. 93 ‐ 95 rep. by 1995 NI 2
96. Powers of other courts.
— [ (1) Where it appears to any court by or before which a person is convicted of having committed in respect of a child or young person any of the offences mentioned in Schedule 1 (not being an offence which resulted in the death of the child or young person) that it may be appropriate for a care or supervision order to be made with respect to him under the Children Order, the court may direct the appropriate Board or HSS trust to undertake an investigation of the child's circumstances.
(1A) Paragraphs (2) to (6) of Article 56 of the Children Order (power of court in family proceedings to direct investigation into child's circumstances) shall have effect where the court gives a direction under this section as they have effect where a court gives a direction under that Article. ]
Subs. (2), (3) rep. by 1995 NI 2 S. 97 rep. by 1998 NI 9
S. 98 rep. by 1995 NI 2
Ss. 99 ‐ 102 rep. by 1998 NI 9
Parts VI ‐ VIII (ss. 103 ‐ 131) rep. by 1995 NI 2
PART IX
REMAND HOMES, ATTENDANCE CENTRES, TRAINING SCHOOLS AND PERSONS TO WHOSE CARE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS MAY BE COMMITTED
Ss. 132 ‐ 148 rep. by 1998 NI 9
149. Expenses of education and library boards.
— Subs. (1) (2) rep. by 1972 NI 14
Subs. (3) rep. by 1995 NI 2
Ss. 150, 151 rep. by 1998 NI 9
S. 152 rep. by 1995 NI 2
S. 153 rep. by 1972 NI 14
Ss. 154 ‐ 160 rep. by 1995 NI 2
S. 161 rep. by 1972 NI 14
S. 162 rep. by 1995 NI 2
PART XI
SPECIAL PREVENTIVE POWERS
S. 163 rep. by 1998 NI 9
S. 164 rep. by 1995 NI 2
PART XII
MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
S. 165 rep. by 1995 NI 2
S. 166 rep. by 1972 NI 14
Ss. 167, 168 rep. by 1998 NI 9
S. 169 rep. by 1995 NI 2
S. 170 rep. by 1998 NI 9
S. 171 rep. by 1972 NI 14
Ss. 172, 173 rep. by 1998 NI 9
174. Presumption and determination of age.
— Subs. (1) rep. by 1998 NI 9
(2) Where in any charge or indictment for any offence under this Act or any of the offences mentioned in Schedule 1, except an offence under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 18851885 c.69
, it is alleged that the person by or in respect of whom the offence was committed was a child or young person or was under or had attained any specified age, and he appears to the court to have been at the date of the commission of the alleged offence a child or young person, or to have been under or to have attained the specified age, as the case may be, he shall for the purposes of this Act be presumed at that date to have been a child or young person or to have been under or to have attained that age, as the case may be, unless the contrary is proved.
(3) Where, in any charge or indictment for any offence under this Act or any of the offences mentioned in Schedule 1, it is alleged that the person in respect of whom the offence was committed was a child or was a young person, it shall not be a defence to prove that the person alleged to have been a child was a young person or the person alleged to have been a young person was a child in any case where the acts constituting the alleged offence would equally have been an offence if committed in respect of a young person or child respectively.
(4) Where a person is charged with an offence under this Act in respect of a person apparently under a specified age it shall be a defence to prove that the person was actually of or over that age.
S. 175 rep. by 1995 NI 2
176. Application of Summary Jurisdiction Acts.
Subject to the provisions of this Act, all orders of a court of summary jurisdiction under this Act shall be made, and all proceedings in relation to any such orders shall be taken, in manner provided by the Summary Jurisdiction Acts (Northern Ireland).
S. 177 rep. by 1998 NI 9
178. Assessors for county court in appeals from juvenile courts.
— (1) Where a county court deals with a case on appeal from a juvenile court, the judge shall, where practicable, be assisted by two
[ appropriate lay magistrates, at least one of whom (where practicable) is a woman, ] who shall sit with him and act as assessors.
(2) Where in any case only one such [ lay magistrate ] is available, the judge may sit with that [ lay magistrate ] ; and where in any case no such [ lay magistrate ] is available and it appears to the judge that an adjournment would not be in the interests of justice, he may sit alone.
Para. (3) rep. by 2002 c. 26
(4) In this section — [ “ appropriate lay magistrate ” means a lay magistrate for the county court division for which the county court is held or any other county court division which adjoins that county court division; ] “ judge ” has the same meaning as in the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959
1959 c.25
.
S. 179 rep. by 1998 NI 9
180. Interpretation.
— (1) In this Act
— “ the Act of 1950 ” means the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1950
1950 c.5
;
Definition rep. by 1998 NI 9
Definition rep. by 1995 NI 2
[ “ child ” [ , except when used in section 22, ] means a person under the age of fourteen [ and, when used in section 22, has the meaning assigned to it by that section ] ; “ Children Order ” means the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995; ]
Definitions rep. by 1998 NI 9
“ credentials ” in relation to a person acting in any capacity means some duly authenticated document showing that he is authorised to act in that capacity;
“ doctor ” means a fully registered medical practitioner;
Definitions rep. by 1998 NI 9
Definition rep. by 1995 NI 2
“ intoxicating liquor ” means any fermented, distilled or spirituous liquor which under the law for the time being in force is subject to an excise duty;
“ legal guardian ” , in relation to a child or young person, means
[ a guardian of a child as defined in the Children Order ] ;
Definition rep. by 1972 NI 14
Definitions rep. by 1998 NI 9
“ parent ” , in relation to any child or young person, or other person
—
(a) who is illegitimate, includes his putative father;
Para. (b) rep. by 1987 NI 22 Definitions rep. by 1998 NI 9
“ public place ” includes any public park, garden, sea beach or railway station, and any ground to which the public for the time being have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise;
Definitions rep. by 1998 NI 9
[ “ responsibility ” shall be construed in accordance with section 36; ]
Definition rep. by 1998 NI 9
Definition rep. by 1995 NI 2
“ street ” includes any highway and any public bridge, road, lane, footway, square, court, alley or passage, whether a thoroughfare or not;
Definitions rep. by 1998 NI 9
Definition rep. by 1972 NI 14
Definition rep. by 1998 NI 9
“ young person ” means a person who has attained the age of fourteen and is under the age of seventeen.
(2) References in this Act to findings of guilt and findings that an offence has been committed shall be construed as including references to pleas of guilty and admissions that an offence has been committed.
(3) References in this Act to the age of any person are expressed in years.
(4) For the purposes of this Act a statement made regardless of whether it is true or false shall be deemed to be made recklessly, whether or not the person making it had reasons for believing that it might be false.
181. Transitional provisions, amendments and repeals.
— Subs. (1) rep. by 1998 NI 9
Subs. (2), with Schedule 7, effects amendments; subs.(3), with Schedule 8, effects repeals
182. Short title and commencement.
— (1) This Act may be cited as the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.
(2)(3) Commencement
SCHEDULES
Sections 3, 31, 32, 33, 34, 60, 61, 62, 93, 96, 99 and 174.
OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH SPECIAL PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT APPLY
The murder or manslaughter of a child or young person.
Infanticide.
[ An offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, in respect of a child or young person. ]
Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the suicide of a child or young person.
Any offence under section 27, [ or 55 ] of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 , and any offence against a child or young person under section 42, 43, [ or 52 ] of that Act.
Any offence under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885 .
Any offence under the Punishment of Incest Act, 1908 , in respect of a child or young person.
Any offence under [ Article 122 or 123 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 ] .
Any offence under sections 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, [ and 29 ] .
Any other offence involving mental or bodily injury to a child or young person.
Any attempt to commit against a child or young person an offence under ... the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885, the Punishment of Incest Act 1908 or [ Article 122 or 123 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 .
[ Any offence under Article 9 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1980.]
[ Any offence under the Child Abduction (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. ]
[ Any offence under Article 147(2) of the Children Order in respect of a contravention of Article 141 of that Order. ]
[ Any offence against a child or young person under Article 19, 20 or 21 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 or any attempt to commit such an offence. ]
[ Any offence against a child or young person under any of sections 15 to 19, 47 to 59, 66 and 67 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 or any attempt to commit such an offence. ]
Sections 63 and 178.
CONSTITUTION OF JUVENILE COURTS
Juvenile court panels
Para. 1 rep. by 2002 c. 26
Para. 2 rep. by 2002 c. 26
Para. 2A rep. by 2002 c. 26
Composition of juvenile court
3. — (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 4, a juvenile court shall be constituted of a resident magistrate, who shall be chairman, and two
[ lay magistrates for the county court division which includes the petty sessions district or districts for which the court acts or any other county court division which adjoins that county court division ] , of whom one at least shall be a woman.
Sub-para. (2) rep. by 2002 c. 26
Proceedings
4. A juvenile court at which the chairman is present shall have power to act notwithstanding that any other member fails to attend and remain present during the sitting of the court and all acts done by the court shall notwithstanding any such failure be as valid as if that member had so attended and remained.
5. — (1) The decision of a juvenile court upon any matter before it shall be by a majority of the members and shall be pronounced by the chairman, or other member at the request of the chairman, and no other member of the court shall make any separate pronouncement thereon; but where the chairman and one other member only attend and remain present during the sitting of the court the decision of the court shall in the event of disagreement between the chairman and that other member be the decision of the chairman and shall be pronounced by the chairman.
(2) Where during or after the hearing and before the determination of any matter before a juvenile court it appears to the chairman that there is, or is likely to be, any difference of opinion between the members, he shall cause the deliberations of the court upon that matter to be conducted in private, and may if he thinks fit adjourn the case for that purpose.
Expenses
Para. 6 rep. by 2002 c. 26
Other provisions
7. The clerk of petty session for the petty sessions district in which a juvenile court sits, or his deputy, shall be the clerk of that court.
8. Regulations made by the [
Lord Chancellor
] shall
— Sub-para. (a) rep. by 2002 c. 26
(b)
designate the areas (each comprising one or more than one petty sessions district) in which the several juvenile courts are to exercise jurisdiction;
(c)
provide for anything which is necessary or expedient for giving due effect to the provisions of this Act;
be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament in like manner as a statutory instrument and section 5 of the Statutory Instrument Act 1946
1946 c.36
shall apply accordingly.]
Schedules 3 ‐ 6 rep. by 1998 NI 9
Schedule 7 — Amendments
Schedule 8 — Repeals 
