The detail of the Guidelines is contained in the following pages. But it is right to set out here the general underlying grounds on which the BBFC exercises the broad discretion conferred on it. There are two guiding principles:
- that works should be allowed to reach the widest audience that is appropriate for their theme and treatment
- that adults should, as far as possible, be free to choose what they see, provided that it remains within the law and is not potentially harmful.
When applying these guiding principles, there are three main qualifications:
- whether the material is in conflict with the law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
- whether the material, either on its own, or in combination with other content of a similar nature,may cause any harm at the category concerned. This includes not just any harm that may result from the behaviour of potential viewers, but also any ‘moral harm’ that may be caused by, for example, desensitising a potential viewer to the effects of violence, degrading a potential viewer’s sense of empathy, encouraging a dehumanised view of others, suppressing pro-social attitudes, encouraging anti-social attitudes, reinforcing unhealthy fantasies, or eroding a sense of moral responsibility. Especially with regard to children, harm may also include retarding social and moral development, distorting a viewer’s sense of right and wrong, and limiting their capacity for compassion
- whether the availability of the material, at the age group concerned, is clearly unacceptable to broad public opinion. It is on this ground, for example, that the BBFC intervenes in respect of bad language.
In assessing legal issues, potential harm or acceptability to broad public opinion, the BBFC takes account of relevant research and expert opinion. However, such research and expert opinion is often lacking, imperfect, disputed, inconclusive or contradictory. In many cases the BBFC must therefore rely on its collective experience and expertise to make a judgement as to the suitability of a work for classification, or for classification at a particular category.
