HC Deb 17 July 1969 vol 787 c181W
Mr. Bishop

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many publications, representing how many titles, were seized at ports under Customs legislation; and how many were forfeited following the institution of proceedings under the Obscene Publications Acts in the years 1960, 1964 and 1968, respectively.

Mr. Harold Lever

The approximate numbers of indecent or obscene books and magazines seized under customs legislation during the financial years 1960–61, 1964–65 and 1968–69, and the numbers forfeited following proceedings, were as follows:

1960–61 1964–65 1968–69
Seized 5,600 900,000 1,500,000
Forfeited following proceedings NIL 152,254 NIL

The proceedings were taken under customs legislation following claims by imparters against seizure, and were not taken under the Obscene Publications Acts. Information regarding the titles of seized publications is not available.

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