HYPNOTISM ACT 1952

15 & 16 GEO. 6
& 1 ELIZ. 2
Hypnotism Act, 1952 CH. 46
CHAPTER 46
An Act to regulate the demonstration of hypnotic
phenomena for purposes of public entertainment.
[1st August 1952.]
E it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and Dwith the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament
assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-
1.--(1) Where under any enactment an authority in any area Control of
have power to grant licences for the regulation of places kept demonstrations
or ordinarily used for public dancing,, singing, music or other of hypnotism
ublic entertainment of the like kind, an ower conferred b at places
p y p y licensed for
any enactment to attach conditions to any such licence shall public
include power to attach conditions regulating or prohibiting the entertainment.
giving of an exhibition, demonstration or performance of
hypnotism on any person at the place to which the licence relates.
(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.-(1) No person shall give an exhibition, demonstration or Control of
performance of hypnotism on any living person at or in con- demonstrations
nection with an entertainment to which the public are admitted, of hypnotism
whether on payment or otherwise, at any place :in relation to at other places.
which such a licence as is mentioned in section o, of this Act
is not in force unless the controlling authority have authorised
that exhibition, demonstration or performance.
(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 contravenlon of this section, or in
contravention of any conditions attached to' an authorisation
f * 1
Cri. 46 Hypnotism Act, 1952 15 & 16 GEO. 6
& 1 ELiz. 2
Prohibition on
hypnotising
persons under
twenty-one.
under this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to
a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.
(4) In this section, the expression " controlling authority "
means-
(a) in relation to a place in any such area as is mentioned
in section one of this Act, the authority having power to
grant licences of the kind mentioned in that section in
that area ;
(h) in relation to a place in any other area in England, the
council of the county borough, borough, or urban or
rural district where the place is, and in relation to a
place in any other area in Scotland, the council of the
county or burgh where the place is.
3. A person who gives an exhibition, demonstration or performance
of hypnotism on a person who has not attained the
age of twenty-one 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 fifty pounds.
Entry of 4. Any police constable may enter any premises where any
premises. entertainment is held if he has reasonable cause to believe that
any act is being or may be done in contravention of this Act.
Saving for 5. Nothing in this Act shall prevent the exhibition, demonsscientific
tration or performance of hypnotism (otherwise than at or in
purposes. connection with an entertainment) for scientific or research
purposes or for the treatment of mental or physical disease.
interpretation. 6. 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 selfinduced.
Short title, 7.-(1) This Act may be cited as the Hypnotism Act, 1952.
extent and (2) This Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland. commencement.
(3) This Act shall come into force on the first day of April,
nineteen hundred and fifty-three.
PRINTED BY HENRY GEORGE GORDON WELCH, C.B.E.
Controller, of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament
LONDON : PUBLISHED BY HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE
Price 2d. net
P R I N T E D I N G R E A T B R I T A I N
(78047)