Pornography and Media Violence....continued
VIDEOS AND FILMS
All videos and films must be classified by the British Board
of Film Classification (BBFC). The categories are as follows:-
|
'U' |
Suitable for audiences aged four years and over.
|
|
'PG' |
Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but
parental guidance is necessary. |
|
'12A' |
No one younger than twelve may see a 12A film in a
cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
|
|
'12' |
No one younger than twelve may rent or buy a '12'
rated video |
|
'15' |
No one younger than 15 may see a '15' in a cinema,
and no one younger than 15 may rent or buy a '15' rated video. |
|
'18' |
No one younger than 18 may see an '18' film in a
cinema, or rent or buy an '18' rated video. |
|
'R18' |
This is a special and legally restricted
classification for explicit videos supplied to adults only in licensed sex
shops. |
Computer games also come under the Act if they contain
violence or explicit sex scenes. Hardcore videos can be purchased from abroad,
and the producers claim that they fall outside the UK Law.
VIDEO INFLUENCES
In the 1996 Survey 73% of women linked
them with domestic violence. In some cases they coerced the women to take part
in unacceptable sexual practices. One county police vice-squad recorded several
cases where sex offenders' behaviour was clearly linked with pornography. The
prison service also, from their one-to-one interviews with sex offenders
reported that in 50% of the cases, pornography could have been the motivation
for rape.
School teachers have evidence of aggresive behaviour in the
playground attributable to violence learned from computer games. Children can
buy videos from car boot sales; borrow from adults; watch them in a friend's
house or in their own houses when the parents are absent. A 14-year old boy who
tied a 12-year old girl to a tree, assaulting and raping her said, 'I got the
idea from a video'.
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