§ Mr. Wardellasked the Attorney-General how many cases brought under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 regarding video cassettes were (a)heard before magistrates and (b)tried at Crown court.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere have been no prosecutions as yet in either the Crown court or the magistrates court under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 regarding video cassettes. However, proceedings have been taken in the magistrates court under section 3 of the Act in respect of five films in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. Wardellasked the Attorney-General what is (a)the number of cases referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding video cassettes under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959, (b)the number of prosecutions and (c) the number of successful prosecutions in the most recent year for which figures are available.
§ The Attorney-GeneralAt 16 December 1982, 29 cases involving video cassettes had been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to proceedings under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959. No prosecutions have been brought as yet under section 2. However, five films in the last 12 months have been the subject of forfeiture orders made by magistrates under section 3 of the Act.