Hypnotism Act 1952
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to regulate the demonstration of hypnotic phenomena for purposes of public entertainment. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 46 |
| Territorial extent |
|
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 1 August 1952 |
| Commencement | 1 April 1953 |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Hypnotism Act 1952 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Hypnotism Act 1952 (15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 46) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom.[1]
The act regulates stage hypnosis ("exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism" for public entertainment).
Provisions[edit]
The act has three primary parts – provisions applying to England and Wales, to Scotland, and to Great Britain as a whole.
England and Wales[edit]
In England and Wales, the act disallows the performance of hypnosis in a public place, unless given permission by the local authority, or they may be liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, currently £1000.
Scotland[edit]
In Scotland, the act gives the authority to any local authority to provide licences to theatres to allow the performance of hypnosis at that location.
UK (excluding Northern Ireland)[edit]
In the UK (excluding NI), the act prohibits hypnosis being knowingly performed on those under 18 (originally 21) or be subject to a level 3 fine. The act also allows for any police officer to enter a location where "entertainment is held" if the officer has cause to believe this act is being contravened.
The act continues to allow for hypnosis to be used without a license if it is being used for research purposes (e.g. for the treatment of a mental or physical disease).
Application[edit]
In 2024 the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton agreed to a request from a comedy hypnotist to overturn a policy it had introduced in the 1980s of refusing the permission required under the 1952 act.[2] The Guardian's report on the matter said that most other councils had in previous decades either stopped enforcing the act or given perfunctory approval as a matter of course.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ "Hypnotism Act 1952". Legislation.gov.uk. 3 May 1952. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ a b Vinter, Robyn (7 February 2024). "Comedy hypnotist overturns decades-old ban on mesmerism". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
