HC Deb 17 February 1997 vol 290 cc358-61W
Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have taken place under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 for material found on the Internet in the last two years. [15851]

Mr. Sackville

Court proceedings data held centrally for offences under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 do not identify the type of medium used.

Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the interdepartmental working group on obscenity has met; on what dates; and what subjects have that discussed. [156845]

Mr. Sackville

The interdepartmental group on obscenity has met seven times so far. The main subjects discussed have been the availability of pornographic material on the Internet and self-regulation by Internet service providers; police enforcement of the law on obscenity and child pornography; the display of indecent publications in newsagents; guidance on the sexual contents of teenage magazines; the international treaties on obscenity; the workings of the Obscene Publications Act 1959; unlicensed sex establishments; satellite pornography; the Home Office research study "Testing obscenity: an international comparison of laws and controls relating to obscene material"; and Lord Halsbury's Bill on obscenity. The group has met on the following dates:

  • 27 March 1995
  • 6 June 1995
  • 21 September 1995
  • 30 January 1996
  • 14 May 1996
  • 26 July 1996
  • 24 September 1996

Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) consultations and (b) discussions are being undertaken on a definition of obscenity to replace that in the Obscene Publications Act 1959. [15846]

Mr. Sackville

The Government have undertaken no formal consultations or discussions on the definition of obscenity contained in the 1959 Act. We are, however, aware of the concerns expressed in some quarters about

Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts and convicted1 at all courts for offences under (a) the Obscene Publications Act 19592 and (b) the Protection of Children Act 19783 by area, 1980 to 1995
England and Wales
Obscene Publications Act 19592 Protection of Children Act 19783
Year Metropolitan Police Area4 Other Forces England and Wales Metropolitan Police Area4 Other Forces England and Wales
1980 Prosecutions 104 79 183 - 13 13
Convictions 72 12 84 - 13 13
1981 Prosecutions 199 208 407 2 11 13
Convictions 91 132 223 2 12 14
1982 Prosecutions 118 164 282 - 9 9
Convictions 119 115 234 2 10 12
1983 Prosecutions n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Convictions n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
1984 Prosecutions 63 520 583 4 14 18
Convictions 94 335 429 4 15 19
1985 Prosecutions 29 246 275 8 14 22
Convictions 43 183 226 7 17 24
1986 Prosecutions 34 95 129 - 10 10
Convictions 49 77 126 1 10 11
1987 Prosecutions 17 104 121 2 21 23
Convictions 22 71 93 7 22 29
1988 Prosecutions 50 108 158 3 29 32
Convictions 45 85 130 5 26 31
1989 Prosecutions 40 85 125 3 41 44
Convictions 32 64 96 6 33 39
1990 Prosecutions 53 121 174 6 38 44
Convictions 25 91 116 4 31 35
1991 Prosecutions 227 136 363 3 37 40
Convictions 102 116 218 7 32 39
1992 Prosecutions 105 108 213 5 41 46
Convictions 89 83 172 5 39 44
1993 Prosecutions 206 87 293 9 33 42
Convictions 140 69 209 10 27 37
1994 Prosecutions 215 94 309 4 36 40
Convictions 187 79 266 2 25 27
1995 Prosecutions 219 138 357 9 44 53
Convictions 154 105 259 6 38 44
1 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences.
2 Obscene Publications Act 1959 as amended by the Obscene Publications Act 1964.
3 Protection of Children Act 1978 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 section 84.
4 Includes the City of London.
n/a = Not available.

the continuing appropriateness of the test, and undertook to follow up any possible ways forward that might emerge from consideration of Lord Halsbury's Bill on this subject. It is clear that there is as yet no consensus on a workable alternative approach.

Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements the Government have put in place to monitor the effectiveness of the Internet Watch Foundation in reducing child pornography on the Internet. [15847]

Mr. Sackville

Officials have held meetings with the Internet Watch Foundation to discuss its work, and we receive reports from the foundation providing regular updates on its progress.

Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 in the past 15 years; and how many of these took place in courts outside London; [15848]

(2) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been under the Protection of Children Act 1978 in the past 15 years; and how many of these took place in courts outside London. [15849]

Mr. Sackville

The information is given in the table:

Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many items have been seized under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 in the past 15 years. [15850]

Mr. Sackville

This information is not collected centrally.