The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent body which was originally established by the film industry in 1912. This was because local authorities were imposing their own, widely varying censorship of films under legislation intended to give them controls over safety standards in cinemas. Local Authorities, from early on, accepted the decisions of the Board. There are obvious benefits to Local Authorities as well as to the film industry in having a central body like the BBFC to bring consistency to the classification process, but still remain independent of both, and to accept responsiblity for decisions taken.
To this day the Board's decisions can be over-ruled by local authorities. This does not happen very often.
Examples where it has happened include the film MRS DOUBTFIRE, when pressure from parents led some local authorities to award a local 'PG' instead of the '12' originally awarded by the BBFC. Westminster Council banned CRASH, Bournemouth Council banned ROMANCE, and Camden Council gave ‘18’ certificates to THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE and THE STORY OF O before the films came into the Board for classification. Both were subsequently classified '18' uncut by the Board.
THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT has also received local approval for individual screenings, most recently from Leicester Council.
In 1985 the Board became the statutory authority for classifying videos under the Video Recordings Act.