Protection of Children Act 1978

Protection of Children Act 1978

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to prevent the exploitation of children by making indecent photographs of them; and to penalise the distribution, showing and advertisement of such indecent photographs.
Citation	1978 c. 37
Introduced by	Cyril Townsend (Commons)
Territorial extent	England and Wales Scotland (section 1(6) Northern Ireland (section 8)
Dates
Royal assent	20 July 1978
Commencement	20 July 1978 (section 8) 20 August 1978 (rest of act)
Other legislation
Amends	Extradition Act 1870 Visiting Forces Act 1952 Children and Young Persons Act 1963 Fugitive Offenders Act 1967
Amended by	Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Criminal Justice Act 1988 Extradition Act 1989 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 Courts Act 2003 Sexual Offences Act 2003 Civil Partnership Act 2004 Police and Justice Act 2006 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 Coroners and Justice Act 2009 Online Safety Act 2023
Relates to	Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Protection of Children Act 1978 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Protection of Children Act 1978 (c. 37) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that criminalises indecent photographs of children. The act applies in England and Wales. Similar provision for Scotland is contained in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and for Northern Ireland in the Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.