Title and commencement 1 This Order may be cited as the Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 … Commencement Interpretation 2 1 The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly. 2 In this Order— “child” subject to paragraph (3)(c) means a person under the age of eighteen ; “film” includes any form of video-recording; “indecent photograph” includes an indecent film, a copy of an indecent photograph or film, and an indecent photograph comprised in a film; “indecent pseudo‐photograph” includes— a copy of an indecent pseudo‐photograph; and data stored on a computer disc or by other electronic means which is capable of conversion into an indecent pseudo-photograph ; “photograph” includes— the negative as well as the positive version; and data stored on a computer disc or by other electronic means which is capable of conversion into a photograph; “pseudo‐photograph” means an image, whether made by computer‐graphics or otherwise howsoever, which appears to be a photograph; 2A In this Order, references to a photograph also include— a a tracing or other image, whether made by electronic or other means (of whatever nature)— i which is not itself a photograph or pseudo-photograph, but ii which is derived from the whole or part of a photograph or pseudo-photograph (or a combination of either or both); and b data stored on a computer disc or by other electronic means which is capable of conversion into an image within paragraph (a); and paragraph (3)(c) applies in relation to such an image as it applies in relation to a pseudo-photograph. 3 For the purposes of this Order— a a person is to be regarded as distributing an indecent photograph or pseudo‐photograph if he parts with possession of it to, or exposes or offers it for acquisition by, another person; and b photographs (including those comprised in a film) shall, if they show children and are indecent, be treated as indecent photographs of children and so as respects pseudo‐photographs; and . c if the impression conveyed by a pseudo‐photograph is that the person shown is a child, the pseudo‐photograph shall be treated as showing a child and so shall a pseudo‐photograph where the predominant impression conveyed is that the person shown is a child notwithstanding that some of the physical characteristics shown are those of an adult. Indecent photographs of children 3 1 Subject to Articles 3A and 3B any person who— a takes, or permits to be taken or makes , any indecent photograph or pseudo‐photograph of a child; or b distributes or shows such indecent photographs or pseudo‐photographs ; or c has in his possession such indecent photographs or pseudo‐photographs , with a view to their being distributed or shown by himself or others; or d publishes or causes to be published any advertisement likely to be understood as conveying that the advertiser distributes or shows such indecent photographs or pseudo‐photographs or intends to do so, shall be guilty of an offence. 2 Proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1) shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. 3 Where a person is charged with an offence under paragraph (1)( b ) or ( c ), it shall be a defence for him to prove— a that he had a legitimate reason for distributing or showing the photographs or pseudo‐photographs or (as the case may be) having them in his possession; or b that he had not himself seen the photographs or pseudo‐photographs and did not know, nor had any cause to suspect, that the photographs or pseudo‐photographs were indecent. 4 A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) shall be liable— a on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both; b on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both. Exception for criminal proceedings, investigations etc. 3A 1 In proceedings for an offence under Article 3(1)(a) of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, the defendant is not guilty of the offence if the defendant proves that— a it was necessary for the defendant to make the photograph or pseudo-photograph for the purposes of the prevention, detection or investigation of crime, or for the purposes of criminal proceedings, in any part of the world, b at the time of the offence charged the defendant was a member of the Security Service or the Secret Intelligence Service , and it was necessary for the defendant to make the photograph or pseudo-photograph for the exercise of any of the functions of that Service , ... c at the time of the offence charged the defendant was a member of GCHQ , and it was necessary for the defendant to make the photograph or pseudo-photograph for the exercise of any of the functions of GCHQ , or d the defendant— i was at the time of the offence charged a member of OFCOM, employed or engaged by OFCOM, or assisting OFCOM in the exercise of any of their online safety functions (within the meaning of section 235 of the Online Safety Act 2023), and ii made the photograph or pseudo-photograph for the purposes of OFCOM’s exercise of any of those functions. 2 In this Article " GCHQ " has the same meaning as in the Intelligence Services Act 1994. 3 In this Article “ OFCOM ” means the Office of Communications. Marriage and other relationships 3B 1 This Article applies where, in proceedings for an offence under Article 3(1)(a) of taking or making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, or for an offence under Article 3(1)(b) or (c) relating to an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, the defendant proves that the photograph or pseudo-photograph was of the child aged 16 or over, and that at the time of the offence charged the child and he— a were married or civil partners of each other, or b lived together as partners in an enduring family relationship. 2 Paragraphs (5) and (6) also apply where, in proceedings for an offence under Article 3(1)(b) or (c) relating to an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, the defendant proves that the photograph or pseudo-photograph was of the child aged 16 or over, and that at the time when he obtained it the child and he— a were married or civil partners of each other, or b lived together as partners in an enduring family relationship. 3 This Article applies whether the photograph or pseudo-photograph showed the child alone or with the defendant, but not if it showed any other person. 4 In the case of an offence under Article 3(1)(a), if sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue as to whether the child consented to the photograph or pseudo-photograph being taken or made, or as to whether the defendant reasonably believed that the child so consented, the defendant is not guilty of the offence unless it is proved that the child did not so consent and that the defendant did not reasonably believe that the child so consented. 5 In the case of an offence under Article 3(1)(b), the defendant is not guilty of the offence unless it is proved that the showing or distributing was to a person other than the child. 6 In the case of an offence under Article 3(1)(c), if sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue both— a as to whether the child consented to the photograph or pseudo-photograph being in the defendant's possession, or as to whether the defendant reasonably believed that the child so consented, and b as to whether the defendant had the photograph or pseudo-photograph in his possession with a view to its being distributed or shown to anyone other than the child, the defendant is not guilty of the offence unless it is proved either that the child did not so consent and that the defendant did not reasonably believe that the child so consented, or that the defendant had the photograph or pseudo-photograph in his possession with a view to its being distributed or shown to a person other than the child. Entry, search and seizure 4 1 Upon a complaint being made to a justice of the peace by or on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland or by a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary if the justice is satisfied that there is reasonable ground to suspect— that there is an indecent photograph or pseudo‐photograph of a child in any premises ... he may grant a warrant under his hand authorising any member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to enter, if necessary by force, and search the premises . . . , and to seize and remove any articles which he believes with reasonable cause to be or include indecent photographs or pseudo‐photographs of children . . . . 2 In this Article “ premises ” has the same meaning as in the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 ( S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12)) (see Article 25 of that Order). Forfeiture 5 The Schedule to this Order makes provision about the forfeiture of indecent photographs and pseudo-photographs. Supplementary provisions relating to forfeiture proceedings 6 1 If the court does not order forfeiture as respects any articles brought before it, it may, if it thinks fit, order the person upon whose complaint the warrant for their seizure was issued to pay such costs as the court thinks reasonable to any person who has appeared before it to show cause why the photographs or pseudo‐photographs should not be forfeited. 2 Costs ordered to be paid under paragraph (1) shall be recoverable as a civil debt. 3 Where any of the articles are ordered to be forfeited under Article 5(3), any person who appears, or was entitled to appear, to show cause against the making of the order may appeal to the county court in accordance with Part XII of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 . 4 An order made under Article 5(3) or (5) (including an order made on appeal) shall not take effect until the expiration of the ordinary time within which an appeal may be instituted or where such an appeal is duly instituted, until the appeal is finally decided or abandoned; and for this purpose— a an application for a case to be stated or for leave to appeal shall be treated as the institution of an appeal; and b where a decision on appeal is subject to a further appeal, the appeal is not finally decided until the expiration of the ordinary time within which a further appeal may be instituted or, where a further appeal is duly instituted, until the further appeal is finally decided or abandoned. Evidence 7 1 In proceedings under this Order relating to indecent photographs of children a person is to be taken as having been a child at any material time if it appears, from the evidence as a whole, that he was then under the age of eighteen . Paras. (2)‐(5) rep. by 1989 NI 12 Offences by bodies corporate 8 Section 20(2) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (liability of directors etc. for offences by body corporate) shall apply to an offence under this Order committed by any body corporate, whether the liability of its members is limited or not and where the affairs of any body corporate are managed by its members, that subsection shall apply in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate. Amendment of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 and the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 9 Para.(1) amends sch. to 1952 c. 67 2 References in the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (except in section 174) and the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 to the offences mentioned in Schedule 1 to that Act shall include an offence under Article 3(1)( a ); and Sub‐para. (b) rep. by 1998 NI 9