Joint consultation on extreme porn
30 Aug 05
Executive joins forces with Home Office to consult about extreme pornogrpahic material
The UK government and the Scottish Executive have together announced their intention to ban possession of extreme pornographic material.
The Home Office has published a consultation paper inviting views from the public. The consultation is being carried out jointly with the Scottish Executive. The proposals include making it an offence to possess images depicting scenes of serious sexual violence and other obscene material.
All the material proposed for the ban is already illegal in the UK under the Obscene Publications Act 1959. However, obscene material from abroad can now be published electronically in the UK thanks to the internet.
Although the law in Scotland differs from England and Wales, the materials involved relate mostly to the internet which is not limited by geographical boundaries. If there is a need to legislate following consultation, the Executive will do so separately in Scotland.
The consultation, which ends on 2 December, invites views on whether there is a need for legislation in this area, different ways the law could be amended, categories of material that should be proscribed and penalties for possession.
It is hoped that creating a new offence of possession of violent and abusive pornogrpahy will reduce the demand for it.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "We have already increased the penalties for possession and distribution of child pornography. If it is found that the law can be strengthened to cut violent pronography from our society, then we will take action."