The BBFC today published new Guidelines for the classification of ‘R18’ videos, which are available only through licensed sex shops. The Guidelines have been revised as a result of a High Court ruling in May against the BBFC. The Board had sought a Judicial Review of a judgement by the Video Appeals Committee upholding an appeal by two distributors against the Board’s decision to refuse ‘R18’ classification for seven sex videos. Those videos have since been classified ‘R18’.
The new Guidelines, which reflect the legal position created by the outcome of the Judicial Review, spell out clearly, for the first time, what is not acceptable in ‘R18’ as well as what is allowed. Robin Duval, Director of the BBFC said:
“The Board has revised its Guidelines in line with the High Court Judgement. We have taken this opportunity to make them clearer and more transparent and to spell out very firmly what is not acceptable as well as what is. There is no question of anything which is illegal being shown, or of any material which is likely to encourage an interest in abusive sexual activity. Violent sex continues to be unacceptable and it must be clear that all activity is fully consensual.
‘R18’ videos make up a tiny proportion of what the Board classifies each year, considerably less than one per cent of video titles since 1990, and they are only available through around 90 licensed sex shops in the whole of the UK.”
1. A copy of the new Guidelines can be found here. Relevant research can be found here. A transcript of the press launch can be found here.
2. The Appeal to the VAC was brought by Sheptonhurst Ltd and Prime Time Promotions (Shifnal) Ltd. The VAC found in favour of the two companies and the decision was announced on 16 August 1999. The Judicial Review of the decision was heard in the High Court on 6 April and the result was announced on 16 May 2000.