{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1988/section-160",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1988/section-160.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1988/33",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Justice Act 1988",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1988",
  "path": "section/160",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "160",
  "heading": "Possession of indecent photograph of child",
  "text": "(1) Subject to section 160A, it is an offence for a person to have any indecent photograph or pseudo-photographof a child . . . in his possession.\n(2) Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (1) above, it shall be a defence for him to prove—\n(a) that he had a legitimate reason for having the photograph or pseudo-photograph in his possession; or\n(b) that he had not himself seen the photograph or pseudo-photograph and did not know, nor had any cause to suspect, it to be indecent; or\n(c) that the photograph or pseudo-photograph was sent to him without any prior request made by him or on his behalf and that he did not keep it for an unreasonable time.\n(2A) A person shall be liable on conviction on indictment of an offence under this section to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or a fine, or both.\n(3) A person shall be liable on summary conviction of an offence under this section to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale , or both.\n(4) Sections 1(3), 2(3), 3 and 7 of the Protection of Children Act 1978 shall have effect as if any reference in them to that Act included a reference to this section.\n(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 160(1) substituted (8.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 148, 153(2)(b), Sch. 26 para. 24"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 160(1) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(4)(a); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 160(1) omitted (3.2.1995) by virtue of 1994 c. 33, s. 84(4)(a); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (and expressed to be repealed (4.9.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 168(3), Sch. 11; S.I. 1995/1957, art. 6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 160(2)(a)-(c) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 84(4)(b); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 160(2A) inserted (11.1.2001) by 2000 c. 43, s. 41(3)(a); S.I. 2000/3302, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 160(3) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 86(1); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 160(5) repealed (4.9.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 168(3), Sch. 11; S.I. 1995/1957, art. 6"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Sidenote to s. 160 substituted (11.1.2001) by 2000 c. 43, s. 41(3)(b); S.I. 2000/3302, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1978 c. 37."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/160",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:47:56.668542+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}