Victory in Sight for Campaign Against Violent Porn |
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Home Office Minister Paul Goggins today announced that the Government intends to ban possession of extreme pornographic material, and published a consultation paper inviting views on the proposals.
Under the Government's proposals, it would be an offence to possess images depicting scenes of serious sexual violence and other obscene material. All the categories of material proposed for banning are already illegal to publish in the UK under the Obscene Publications Act (OPA) 1959. However, the global nature of Internet means obscene material can now be published electronically in the UK from abroad. It is hoped that creating a new offence of possession of violent and abusive pornography will send a clear message about this material, make it easier to combat and may reduce demand for it. The consultation invites views on whether there is a need for legislation in this area; the different ways the law could be amended, the categories of material which should be proscribed and the potential penalties for possessing such pornography. Under the new proposals possessing images electronically would be no different from possessing actual photographs, as with current laws on possession of child pornography. Paul Goggins said: "This is material which is extremely offensive to the vast majority of people, and it should have no place in our society. The fact that it is available over the Internet should in no way legitimise it. These forms of violent and abusive pornography go far beyond what we allow to be shown in films or even sold in licensed sex shops in the U.K., so they should not be available online either. "I am inviting views on whether legislation in this area is required, and if so, what the proscribed material and penalties should be." Liz Longhurst, whose daughter Jane was murdered in 2003 by a man obsessed with violent sexual pornography, said: "I welcome the news that the Home Office is consulting on making it an offence to ban violent internet pornography. Over the last eighteen months I have worked hard to change the climate of public opinion through the Jane Longhurst Campaign by raising public awareness of the issue. "With the help of many friends, including MPs Martin Salter and David Lepper, we have lobbied the Government and collected over 35,000 signatures for our petition and I am hopeful of reaching a target of 100,000 signatures by Spring 2006. I would be grateful for any help with the petition, which can be downloaded from www.martinsalter.com/pdf/jane-longhurst-petition.pdf." Martin Salter who led the campaign in Parliament on behalf of Liz Longhurst said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled with the news that 18 months of hard work and relentless campaigning has finally produced this excellent result. Now at last the loophole in the law caused by the creation of the internet will finally be closed when legislation is introduced, as I am sure it will be, to make it illegal to possess computer images which contravene the Obscene Publications Act. All along we have argued that extreme pornographic internet images which feature actual murder, rape and necrophilia should be outlawed in the same way as pornography involving children.” He added: “I am proud of the campaign we have fought which has attracted the support of 180 MPs from all parties and collected well over 35,000 signatures on our petition. I am particularly proud of the courage and determination shown by Liz Longhurst who was motivated by the desire to ensure that other parents did not experience her dreadful loss when her lovely daughter Jane was murdered by a sick, self-confessed addict of extreme internet porn.” |
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