{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-northern-ireland-order-1978/article-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-northern-ireland-order-1978/article-2.json",
  "legislation": "nisi/1978/1047",
  "legislation_title": "Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1978",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-northern-ireland-order-1978",
  "path": "article/2",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "Interpretation",
  "text": "(1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 1954 c.33 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.\n(2) In this Order—\n“child” subject to paragraph (3)(c) means a person under the age of eighteen;\n“film” includes any form of video-recording;\n“indecent photograph” includes an indecent film, a copy of an indecent photograph or film, and an indecent photograph comprised in a film;\n“indecent pseudo‐photograph” includes—\n(a)a copy of an indecent pseudo‐photograph; and\n(b)data stored on a computer disc or by other electronic means which is capable of conversion into an indecent pseudo-photograph;\n“photograph” includes—\n(a)the negative as well as the positive version; and\n(b)data stored on a computer disc or by other electronic means which is capable of conversion into a photograph;\n“pseudo‐photograph” means an image, whether made by computer‐graphics or otherwise howsoever, which appears to be a photograph;\n(2A) In this Order, references to a photograph also include—\n(a) a tracing or other image, whether made by electronic or other means (of whatever nature)—\n(i) which is not itself a photograph or pseudo-photograph, but\n(ii) which is derived from the whole or part of a photograph or pseudo-photograph (or a combination of either or both); and\n(b) data stored on a computer disc or by other electronic means which is capable of conversion into an image within paragraph (a);\nand paragraph (3)(c) applies in relation to such an image as it applies in relation to a pseudo-photograph.\n(3) For the purposes of this Order—\n(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\n(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.\n(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.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "1994 c. 33"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Art. 2(2): word in the definition of \"child\" substituted (2.2.2009) by Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1769 (N.I. 2)), arts. 1(3), 42(2); S.R. 2008/510, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Art. 2(2): words in the definition of \"indecent pseudo-photograph\" substituted (8.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 70(2), 153(2)(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Art. 2(2A) inserted (8.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 70(3), 153(2)(c) (with Sch. 27 para. 24(2))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1978/1047/article/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T04:53:04.802561+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."
}