Cinemas (A Certificate Films)

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 December 1958.

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Photo of Dr Donald Johnson Dr Donald Johnson , Carlisle 12:00, 11 December 1958

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to make it an offence for adults to take children, of whose identity they are unaware, into a cinema when an A certificate film is showing.

Photo of Dr Donald Johnson Dr Donald Johnson , Carlisle

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware, however, that it is a practice in many parts of the country for children to hang round the entrances to cinemas and to ask strange adults to help them get admission, and that not only does this give evil-intentioned adults unnecessary opportunities, but it likewise destroys the purpose of the A certificate?

Photo of Mr David Renton Mr David Renton , Huntingdonshire

The admission of a child to a cinema in the company of a stranger might in certain circumstances amount to a breach of the conditions of the cinema operator's licence, and would therefore be an offence.