Extreme pornography legislation

The Extreme Pornography Legislation, The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act became law in May 2008.

This law makes it illegal to possess pornographic images which show an act which threatens a person’s life, an act which results, or is likely to result, in serious injury to a person’s anus, breasts or genitals, an act which involves sexual interference with a human corpse, or a person performing an act of intercourse or oral sex with an animal (whether dead or alive).

This section of the Act took effect on 26th January 2009.

The Spanner Trust has produced a guidance leaflet explaining what the law says and how to protect yourself. This is available from here.

Ministry of Justice has now issued its own guidance and a PDF version of this can be downloaded from here.

In 2010 there were 57 convictions for possession under S63 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. Of these 9 were for possession under S63(7)(b) (serious injury to anus, breasts or genitals) and 48 were for possession under S63(7)(d) (bestiality). There were no prosecutions under S63(7)(a) (life threatening) and 63(7)(c) (necrophilia). (Source – CAAN Newsletter July 2012)

One of the defences available is that the images depict the consensual activities of the owner of the image. However as many SM activities are currently illegal it is now vitally important that we get as much support as possible to change the law on consent and injuries sustained during sex.

For more information go to the the Spanner Trust.