Opposition grows
Opposition to the proposed “violent porn” law continues to grow. Derek Cohen of the Spanner Trust:
There is a danger of not just criminalising people but putting a lot of fear into people who will be concerned that taking photographs of their own private sexual activities will send them to prison.
Other groups mobilising against the proposals are Ofwatch, Backlash, and Feminists Against Censorship.
The Home Office’s consultation paper can be seen here (not anymore!). It shows that the vast majority of individuals who responded to the question “Do you think the challenge posed by the Internet in this area requires the law to be strengthened?” answered “no”:
The organisations who support the legislation include 18 police forces and the usual suspects Mediawatch-UK, Mediamarch, and the Lawyers Christian Fellowship.
Sorry but the consultation paper isn’t to be seen “here”, anymore. In fact it seems to have vanished altogether from the Home Office web site….
I wish this repressive proposal for legislation would also do the same……
Just why are repressed morons such as Mediawatch-UK, Mediamarch, and the Lawyers Christian Fellowship even consulted? They believe in supernatural beings ghosts and things that go bump in the night for crying out loud. They may as well go the whole hog and consult Most Haunted with Yvette Fielding and Derek “Mary loves Dick” Acorah.
The consulation response is at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-extreme-porn-3008051/
[…] Home Office minister Vernon Coaker disingenuouslyy claimed “This is a complex issue on which we have consulted widely. Our intention to legislate in this area has the support of various organisations, including women’s and children’s groups and police forces. In addition, a petition signed by around 50,000 people objecting to extreme internet sites promoting violence against women in the name of sexual gratification was presented to Parliament.†Posted by Paul in UK (September 10, 2006 at 3:32 pm) […]
The original consultation is NOT on the Home Office website, only the recommendation to continue with the proposal despite the fact that the majority of responses were AGAINST it.
Quoted from the Home Office
“With regard to putting the original consultation paper back on the website, as you will be aware there is reference to a court case in it which is now subject to a retrial. We have been advised that, until the outcome of the retrial is known the document should not continue to be made available on the website. Clearly the position will be reviewed as soon as the court case has finished.”
Quite stunning that the consultation is so closely identified with ONE court case that it has to be removed from the public domain while that particular case is re-tried.