Children and Young Persons Act 1963
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
2 compliance obligations, 5 practical guides across 2 topics
Penalty landscape
1 of 2 obligations carry a fine up to £100. 1 carries different penalties — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 2
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — Care and Control of Children and Young Persons
Increase of penalty for cruelty.
Fine up to £100- Cruelty to a child under 16 Any Person
Browse 21 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
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Offences committed by children.
Constitution and place of sitting of juvenile courts.
Jurisdiction of magistrates’ courts in certain cases involving children and young persons.
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Attendance at court of parents of child or young person brought before court.
Medical evidence by certificate.
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Form of oath for use in juvenile courts and by children and young persons in other courts.
Provisions as to persons between the ages of 17 and 18.
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Increase of penalty for sales of tobacco, etc. , to persons under 16.
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Part II — Employment of Children and Young Persons
Offences.
3 months imprisonment- Unlawfully employing children in performances Any Person
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Hours of employment.
Street trading.
Increase of certain penalties.
Restriction on persons under 16 taking part in public performances, etc.
Restriction on licences for performances by children under 14.
Supplementary provisions as to licences under section 37.
Licences for training persons between 12 and 16 for performances of a dangerous nature.
Licences for children and young persons performing abroad.
Extended powers of entry.
Construction of Part II.
Part III — Miscellaneous and General
Browse 18 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
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Arrest in one part of British Islands of children or young persons escaping in other part.
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Emigration with consent of Secretary of State.
Prosecution of offences under Part I or Part II of principal Act.
Newspaper and broadcast reports of proceedings involving children.
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Expenses.
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Interpretation.
†Amendments, transitional provisions, and repeals.
Citation, construction, commencement and extent.
Schedules
Browse 2 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- BBFC: submit a work for classification (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- GOV.UK: entertainment licensing (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- HSE: entertainment and leisure (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Child employment: rules for young workers (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Pay the data protection fee (opens in a new tab) from ICO Detailed Guidance
- Copyright guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Local Authority (Environmental Health / Licensing / Planning)
Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.