Children and Young Persons Act 1933

4 Causing or allowing persons under sixteen to be used for begging. E+W

(1) If any person causes or procures any child or young person under the age of sixteen years or, having [F1 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, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding [F2 level 2 on the standard scale], or alternatively, . . . F3 or in addition thereto, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months.

(2) If a person having [F1 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.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 4(1)(2) substituted (14. 10. 1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(5)(6), Sch. 13 para. 3(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2).

F2 Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 46

F3 Words repealed by Children and Young Persons Act 1963 (c. 37), s. 64, Sch. 5