Pornography is a controversial and sensitive subject in the UK, and its laws are constantly changing with changing attitudes. The current regulations surrounding pornography vary from state to state, making it hard to keep track of all the rules and regulations.

This guide is meant to provide you with an overview of the current legal situation in the UK regarding pornography. We’ll cover topics such as age restrictions, content regulation, and censorship, so you can better understand your rights when it comes to porn in the UK.

The UK’s Pornography Laws

In the United Kingdom, pornography is legal. However, there are restrictions on what kind of pornography can be produced and distributed. For example, it is illegal to produce or distribute pornography that depicts violence or sexual acts with animals. It is also illegal to distribute pornography to minors

There are a few different ways that someone could break the law when it comes to pornography. First, by producing or distributing pornographic material that involves violence or bestiality, a person could be charged with publishing an obscene article. This is punishable by up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Another way a person could break the law is by possessing or viewing child pornography. Child pornography is defined as any pornographic material that depicts someone under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activity. Possessing child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. Viewing child pornography is not currently a criminal offence in the UK but could be soon if new legislation proposed by the government is passed.

What Was The 2019 ‘Porn Law’ And What Does It Cover?

In 2019, the UK government passed a law banning certain types of pornography. The law, which is commonly referred to as the “porn law”, covers a range of activities including making, possessing, distributing, and viewing pornography.

The law was designed to protect children from being exposed to harmful or inappropriate material. It also criminalises the possession of child pornography. The maximum sentence for breaking the law is 10 years in prison.

The porn law has been controversial since it was first proposed. Some people argue that it infringes on freedom of expression and could lead to censorship. Others believe that it is necessary to protect children from harm.

What is classified as pornography in the UK?

Pornography is classified as anything that is intended to cause sexual excitement and is generally considered to be harmful to minors. This includes magazines, videos, and websites that are sexually explicit or contain graphic images of sex acts.

Pornography is illegal in the UK if it is distributed without age-restrictions or if it is considered to be obscene. Obscene material is defined as anything that tends to deprave or corrupt people who view it. It is also illegal to possess or distribute child pornography in the UK.

There are a number of government agencies and organisations that work to enforce the law on pornography in the UK, including the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. If you are found to be in possession of illegal pornography, you could face a fine or even imprisonment.

The Different Types of Pornography

There are many different types of pornography, and the laws surrounding it can be complex. Here is a quick guide to some of the most common types of pornography and the laws that apply to them in the UK.

Child pornography

This is any pornography that involves someone who is under 18 years old, or looks like they could be. It is illegal to produce, possess or distribute child pornography in the UK, and offenders can face up to 10 years in prison.

Extreme pornography

Extreme pornography includes anything that is particularly violent, graphic or obscene. It is illegal to possess extreme pornography in the UK, but it is not currently illegal to produce or distribute it. This means that many websites based outside of the UK can still host this type of content.

Revenge porn

Revenge porn is when someone shares private, sexual images or videos without the consent of the person featured in them. This can be done online or offline, and often leads to the victim feeling humiliated and exposed. In 2016, a new law was introduced making it a specific offence to share revenge porn in England and Wales, with offenders facing up to 2 years in prison.

Prostitution-related materials

Pornography that shows people engaged in sexual activity in exchange for money (or anything else of value) is classed as prostitution-related material. It is legal to produce and distribute this type of pornography in the UK, but there

The legal age to view pornography in the UK

The legal age to view pornography is 18. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as if the pornography is considered to be educational or of artistic merit. However, generally speaking, if you are under 18 and you want to view pornography, you will need to find a way to do so without breaking the law.

There are a few ways that you can view pornography legally in the UK if you are over 18. One way is to purchase it from a licensed sex shop. Another way is to subscribe to an online porn site that requires age verification. Finally, you can always rent or buy DVDs or videos from an adult rental store.

So there you have it! The legal age to view pornography in the UK is 18. There are a few ways that you can legally view pornography if you are over 18, but generally speaking, if you are under 18, you will need to find a way to do so without breaking the law.

What Is ‘Extreme Pornography’ in the UK

Extreme pornography is defined as any kind of pornography that is illegal to possess or distribute. This includes images or videos that depict bestiality, necrophilia, child abuse, rape, and other forms of sexual violence.

Possession of extreme pornography is a criminal offence under the Obscene Publications Act 1959. The maximum penalty for possessing extreme pornography is imprisonment for up to 3 years.

Distributing or publishing extreme pornography is also a criminal offence under the Obscene Publications Act 1959. The maximum penalty for distributing or publishing extreme pornography is imprisonment for up to 7 years.

Extreme pornography is also classified as an indecent image under the Protection of Children Act 1978. It is an offence to possess or distribute an indecent image of a child under the age of 18. The maximum penalty for possessing or distributing an indecent image of a child is imprisonment for up to 5 years.

Penalties for breaking the law in the UK

There are a number of laws governing pornography. These laws vary depending on the type of pornography involved and the age of the person viewing it.

Some types of pornography are illegal to possess or distribute in the UK. These include images of child abuse, bestiality, and extreme violence. It is also illegal to make or distribute so-called “extreme pornographic images”, which are defined as those that threaten a person’s life or that show them being seriously injured or in pain.

Possession of any kind of illegal pornography can lead to a prison sentence of up to 5 years. Distributing such material can result in a sentence of up to 10 years.

Viewing legal pornography is not illegal in the UK, but there are age restrictions in place. Pornographic material must not be made available to children under the age of 18, either online or offline. This includes both paid-for and free content. There are a number of ways in which these restrictions can be enforced, including through website blocking software and age verification for online content.

Breaking any of these laws can lead to prosecution and a criminal record. This could have a serious impact on your future, affecting your employment prospects and travel plans. If you are convicted of an offence relating to child abuse imagery, you will also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

What Are The Sentences For Extreme Pornography?

There are no specific laws against viewing extreme pornography. However, it is illegal to possess or distribute extreme pornography under the Obscene Publications Act 1959. The definition of “extreme pornography” is currently unclear, but it is likely to include material that is grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of a nature that would cause serious harm to a reasonable person’s ability to function normally in society.

Possession of extreme pornography is punishable by up to 3 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. Distribution of extreme pornography is punishable by up to 7 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

It should be noted that simply viewing extreme pornography is not currently a criminal offence in the UK. However, if the material is downloaded from the internet onto a computer or other device, then the owner of the device may be liable for possession under the Obscene Publications Act 1959.

What Is The Law On Possessing and/or Making Indecent Images?

It is illegal to possess or create any indecent images of children. This includes both real and computer-generated images, as well as so-called “cartoon” or “anime” child pornography. Penalties for possessing or making such images can be up to 10 years in prison.

Additionally, it is also illegal in the UK to possess or create sexual images of anyone under the age of 18, even if they are consenting to the image being taken or created. This includes so-called “sexting” between minors. Penalties for possessing or making such images can also be up to 10 years in prison.

Finally, it should be noted that it is also illegal in the UK to possess or distribute any kind of extreme pornography. This includes images depicting bestiality, necrophilia, or violent sexual acts which are likely to cause serious injury. Penalties for possessing or distributing such images can be up to 3 years in prison.

Possession of Pornographic Material

It is legal to possess pornography in your own home. However, it is illegal to distribute or sell pornography. It is also illegal to possess or view child pornography.

Possession of Pornographic Material: The Basics

In the United Kingdom, it is legal for an individual to possess pornographic material in their own home. This includes magazines, videos, DVDs, and software. It is also legal to view online pornography. However, there are some restrictions on what types of pornography can be possessed and viewed. For example, it is illegal to possess or view child pornography.

It is also important to note that it is illegal to distribute or sell pornography in the UK. This means that individuals cannot share pornographic material with others, even if they are not selling it for profit. Additionally, it is illegal to produce or make pornographic material available for distribution. This includes posting online videos or images, as well as creating websites that offer access to such material.

Distribution of Pornographic Material

There are no specific laws in the UK that prohibit the distribution of pornographic material. However, there are a number of laws that could potentially be used to prosecute those who distribute such material. These include laws against obscene publications, indecency, and public nuisance.

Those who distribute pornography may also be liable for civil damages under defamation or privacy law. In addition, the distribution of child pornography is a criminal offence in the UK.

It is important to note that while the possession of pornography is not illegal in the UK, it is illegal to possess certain types of extreme pornography. This includes images or videos depicting bestiality, necrophilia, or violence that is realistically simulated. It is also illegal to possess or distribute so-called “prohibited images” of children, which include photographs or videos of children engaged in sexual activity or posed in a sexually suggestive manner.

Production of Pornographic Material

Producing pornography is a criminal offence in the UK. This includes making, distributing or showing pornography.

The maximum sentence for producing pornography is 6 months in prison and/or an unlimited fine. The sentence for distributing or showing pornography is 3 months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

There are a number of defences to these offences, including:

• If the material is not considered to be pornographic (e.g. it is educational or satirical)
• If the material is only intended for personal use and will not be distributed to others
• If the production of the pornography was forced or coerced

Obscene Publications Act 1959

The Obscene Publications Act 1959 is a law in the United Kingdom that makes it illegal to publish or possess material that is considered to be obscene. The law applies to all forms of media, including books, magazines, films, and websites.

The test for whether something is considered obscene is whether it would tend to “deprave and corrupt” those who see it. This is a very low bar, and as a result, the Act has been used to ban a wide variety of materials, including some that are not traditionally thought of as pornography.

One well-known example of something that was banned under the Act is D. H. Lawrence’s novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which was first published in 1928. The book was not widely available in the UK until 1960, when a publisher released an edition with some changes made to the text in order to avoid violating the Act.

Coroners and Justice Act 2009

The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 made it a criminal offence to possess “extreme pornographic images”. An “extreme image” is defined as one which depicts in an explicit and realistic way ANY of the following:

• An act which threatens a person’s life
• An act which results in or is likely to result in serious injury to a person’s anus, breasts or genitals
• An act of sexual intercourse or oral sex with an animal (whether dead or alive)

The possession of such images is now punishable by up to 3 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. The law applies to both physical and digital images, meaning that it is also an offence to view extreme pornography online.

The intention of the law was to target those who create and distribute “realistic” depictions of extreme acts, rather than those who simply view them. However, there has been criticism that the definition of “extreme image” is too broad and could potentially criminalise people who view non-harmful consensual acts between adults (e.g. BDSM).

Police Powers

The police have a number of powers when it comes to pornography. They can seize and destroy any material that is deemed to be “obscene” or “offensive”. They can also arrest and charge anyone who is found to be in possession of such material.

The police can also take action against those who are involved in the production or distribution of pornographic material. This includes taking down websites and prosecuting those who are responsible for them.

Pornography laws in the UK are some of the most strict in the world. Possession of even a small amount of pornography can result in a prison sentence. The maximum sentence for possessing or distributing child pornography is 10 years in prison.

Conclusion

We hope that this guide to the pornography laws in the UK has been useful and informative. It is important to be aware of the law when it comes to using or accessing pornographic material, as engaging in activities which are illegal can have serious consequences. When viewing pornography, always do so responsibly and make sure you know what is and isn’t allowed. If you have any questions about what constitutes offensive material, contact your local police station for advice.

26 December 2022