The Cinematograph Exhibitions Act, 1966

Assented to in Her Majesty's name this J5th day ofJuly, 1966. LS No. 15 Nus ICEREEDO Sierra Leone H. J. L. BOSTON, Governor-General. The Cinematograph Exhibitions Act, 1966 Being an Act to Consolidate and Amend The Law Relating to The Regulation and Control of Cinematograph and Similar Exhibitions and For Matters Connected therewith A 65 BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and With the advice and consent of the House of Representatives in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the Same, as follows: Short title. 21st July, 1966.]Date of com mencement A 66 Interpretation. Exhibitions not to be Appeals from deci sion of pre scribed authority. No. 15 Supervision to ensure safety from fire. Cinematograp1 Eahibitions

(I) No person shall conduct, present, or givc, or allow tobe conducted, presentcd, or given any exhibilion for the purposesgiven excepton licensed of which inflammable films are uscd, cxcept in premises liccnsed premises. for the purpose by the prescribed authority under this Act, and in Duty of occupier of premises in which it is proposed to give an ex hibition. 1."Board " means the Board of Control appoited under the provisions of sub-section (2) of scction 6: " exhibition " inclucdes a cinematograph cxhibitio, and any other similar exhibition: Minister "" mcans the Minister for the time being charged with responsibility for nnatters relating to cducation: "premises " includcs buildings and lands. (2) No liccnce shall be granted in respcct of any premises unless the prescribed authority is satisficd that such premises are safe and otherwisc suitable for the purposes of the proposed exhibition. (3) The prescribed authority may without assigning any reasons for so doing (a) refuse to grant any such licence, or

Where the prcscribed authority has granted a licenceat exhibition under section 2 subject to the condition that the exhibition shall be conducted under the superintendence of any public officer, suclh public oficer may at any time order such exhibition to ceasc, or give any other direction he may consider nccessary for the purpose of ensuring the safcty from firc of the premises in which the cxhi bition takes placc or of the persons attending thc exhibition. (b) grant such licence subjcct to such conditions and restrictions as the said authority may decm fit to impose. 3. An appeal shall lic to the Minister from any decision of the prescribed authorily made under scction 2 and the Minister's decision shall not be subjcct to question in any Court.

(1) The occupier (which Cxpression in this sectionincludes a reference to the person nanaging or rccciving the rcnt thereof) of any premises at which it is proposcd to givc an exhibi tion shall ascertain whether the said prcmises have becn duly licensed as aforesaid. (2) The occupicr shall notify the prescribed authority if and so sOon as he has rcason to belicve that there is an intention 1o procced with the cxhibition cither without a licence grantcd as aforesaid, or with such licence. but contrary to any of the condi tions imposcd thereby. accordance with the provisions of such licencc. No. 15 Cinematograph Exhibitions

(1) No person shall present or exhibit, or allow to be Censorshippresented or exhibited, any film pictures or other similar optical of nlms.effects unless the same shall first have been approved and passedby the Board of Control appointed under subsection (2). (2) The Minister may by Order, appoint and direct aBoard of Control for the purpose of viewing, examining andcensoring films intended for use in connection with an exhibitionand the Board so appointed shall by virtue of this Act be invested with all legal powers necessary for the proper performance of its duties and functions. (3) Whenever the Board shall pass and approve any film, it shall signify its decision by a certificate in the prescribedform. (4) The Board may (a) pass and approve part of a film whilst disapprov ing another part thereof: (6) pass and approve any film subject to special conditions and restrictions as it may deem fit; (c) at any time revoke its decision; or (d) give any directions in the matter as respects any film, as it deems fit, and may so act as it shall think proper for the purpose of giving effect to its decision. (5) A film or part of a film which has been passed and approved by the Board of Control may, subject always to the provisions of section 2 be exhibited in any part of Sierra Leone. (6) When the Board has refused to pa ss and approve any film or part of a film, it may retain such ilm or excise andretain such part of a film until it is exported from Sierra Leone or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the directions of the Board.

No person shall display or cause to be displayed any Advertisepicture, photograph, poster or figure advertising any film unless ment of films the same has been approved by the Board and marked by it in not to be exhibited the manner prescribed. unless 9 (1) Any person who A 67

Any District Officer or Police Officer may at any time Power ofenter any premises in which he has reason to believe that an entry. exhibition is being or about to be given, with a view to secing whether the provisions of this Act or any Order or Rule made thereunder and the conditions of any licence granted under this Act have been complied with. () contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Act, T (ii) disobeys or fails to comply with the lawful order of the prescribed authority or of any officer charged with the execution of, or concerned in the enforce ment of, any of the provisions of this Act, or authorised. Offences and penalties. A 68 Rules. No. 15 Repeal of Cap. 115. Cinematograph Exhibitions 1966 (iii) hinders or obstructs any such authority or officer, shall be guilty of an offence, and on summary conviction thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred leones and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding four leones in respect of each day during which the offence continues. Act not 10. The restrictions set forth in this Act shall not apply to applicable to private an exhibition given in private premises to which the public are exhibitions. not admitted on pay1nent or otherwise. (2) Where a person has been convicted of a continuing offence under this section, the Court convicting him shall inform the prescribed authority, who shall forthwith revoke the licence (if any) granted to such person under section 2.

The Minister may make Rules for the further or better,carrying out of any of the provisions or purposes of this Act, and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, with respect to any of the following matters (a) the appointment of a person or persons to be the prescribed authority for any purpose under this Act; (b) the prescription of fees to be charged and paid under this Act; (c) the prescription of forms to be used for any purpose under this Act; (d) the procedure with respect to the application for, and to grant of, licences under section 2, and the condi tions and restrictions relating thereto; (e) the prescription of anything which under this Act requires to be or may be prescribed; and (f) the prescription of the duties and powers of any person the administrationengaged or employed in enforcement of the provisions of this Act. Or I2. The Cinematograph Exhibitions Act is hereby repealed except that (a) all licences granted and all Orders and Rules made under any of the provisions of the said Act shall be deemed to have been granted or made as the case may be under this Act and shall continue in force until they are amended, revoked or replaced by licences, Orders or Rules made under the provisions of this Act; and (b) the provisions of this section shall not affect any legal proceedings pending at the date of commencement of this Act. No. 15 Cinematograph Exhibitions 1966 M.P. S.F./38, A 69 Passed in the House of Representatives this J01h day of June, in thevear of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and sixty-six. THIS PRINTED IMPRESSION has been carefully compared by me with the Bill which has pa ssed the House of Representatives and found by me to be a true and correctly printed copy of the said Bill. No. 15 Cinenatograph Exhibitions 1966 A 69 Passed in the House of Representatives this 10th day of June. in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and sixty-gix. M.P. S.F./38, THIS PRINTED IMPRESSION has been carefully compared by me with the Bill which has passed the House of Representatives and found by me to be atrue and correctly printed copy of the said Bill.