The BBFC today published new classification guidelines which increase protection for children from harm, while retaining the right of adults to choose their own viewing. The Guidelines reflect the views of over 11,000 people from across the UK, 7,000 more than contributed to the 2000 Guidelines survey, as well as advice from a variety of experts consulted by the BBFC.
President of the BBFC, Sir Quentin Thomas, said:
‘Our classification Guidelines are at the heart of our contract with the public and therefore have to reflect their views as accurately as possible. As well as the quantitative research, we used focus groups to look specifically at violence, bad language, drugs and the ‘12A’ cinema category. The clear outcome of all of the research was that the Guidelines are still, on the whole, in line with public attitudes and concerns. However, drawing on both the public’s responses and expert advice, we have added, or given greater weight to, a number of key concerns. These include suicide techniques, self-harming and incitement to racial hatred or violence. The protection of children remains at the heart of the Guidelines.’
David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said:
‘Some might say that because we have not made major changes to the Guidelines the whole exercise has been a waste of time. On the contrary, it enables the Board to re-affirm its public accountability in the thoroughly researched knowledge that, since the 2000 Guidelines were published, public opinion has become neither markedly more censorious nor more liberal. The Guidelines ensure that people going to the cinema or renting or buying a DVD can be confident about what to expect from the work. In support of this approach, the Board now provides informative Consumer Advice on every work we classify. We rely on the industry for the display of this advice in publicity and on packaging, and we greatly value their co-operation in making this information available. It can also be found on the BBFC’s website.
‘It is impossible to reach a classification decision which will be agreed upon by the whole population. Indeed, as a member of one of the focus groups said “We can’t agree here, so how are 56 million people going to agree?” What did receive overwhelming support was the proposition that the BBFC’s role is to protect children from both harmful and unsuitable material, with over 90 per cent of respondents agreeing. The proposition that adults should be able to choose for themselves what they watch, within the law, was disputed by fewer than 20 per cent of respondents.
‘We are acutely aware that there will be works which we pass, at whatever classification, which may shock or offend some sections of the population, just as we sometimes outrage libertarian views when we intervene to cut, or even refuse a certificate to, a work. What the research shows, and the Guidelines reflect, is that for the majority of the public we get it right for the most of the time.’
The most important classification issues for the public were (rating it very important):
Percentages of people who think the BBFC Guidelines are ‘about right’:
Issues which have been added to the range of classification concerns, or which have increased in emphasis:
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