You may or may not be aware of some new legislation coming into force fairly soon...   Possession of Extreme Pornographic Images, sections 62-67 of the Criminal Justice Act 2008.   Guidance thus far has been pretty poor... and the wording of the Act is such that there are some very grey areas indeed... time will tell how far they're going to push this legislation... but you might be advised to ensure you're aware of it. It might not necessarily be what YOU consider to be extreme pornography.   The most obvious example of a grey area falls under this section:   (b) an act which results, or is likely to result, in serious injury to a person’s anus, breasts or genitals,   Do you have any photographs on your computer of your own or your partner's pierced nipple? Taken at face value, a piercing can indeed be considered a serious injury and this legislation is worded in such a way that possessing a photo of a piercing could make you a criminal.   Got any pics that might contravene this legislation? Not a problem - delete them from your computer:   Deleting an image will be sufficient to prove you no longer "possess" it – unless you have the skill to recover it. In which case you could still be done: techies beware.   Hmmm... Really?   Interesting article with links if you want to know more about it all - here:   http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/28/extreme_images/   Stills from some movies which have been classified by the BBFC could now fall foul of this legislation... yet they'll still be fine to be shown as a moving picture?!   OKaaaaayyyy...   The article's TIC closing sums it up rather nicely IMO   Apparently extreme images are only dangerous if watched by sexual deviants: psychopaths and murderers are unaffected by them.                                                                                                                                                                                

TC's nip did have a disturbing effect                                                                                                                                                                             

Hehehe! My point exactly... it was hardly what one would term a "pornographic" image, was it?   Yet, if taken to the extreme, this legislation could get me erm someone who saved that photo onto their hard drive into trouble.   *ahem*                                                                                                                                                                                 

*ahem*                                                                                                                                                                             

Oh lawd... is my nipple causing problems again??    psst,TM.... reading through that again, you might want to delete those ones of me doing that 'thing' in the shower...                                                                                                                                                                             

what if you and your partner take the pictures of yourselves?                                                                                                                                                                                

*delete* *delete* *delete* *delete*    eh? What was that, Matt?   *delete* *delete* *delete*                                                                                                                                                                             

That'll be half the government and judges in trouble then. Allegedly.                                                                                                                                                                             

Half Ric your being optomistic                                                                                                                                                                             

(the other half don't have computers and keep the Polaroids in a shoebox underneath the bed....)                                                                                                                                                                             

This is the problem Matt - at the moment, in the wording of the legislation there is no room for "consent", there is no allowance for private photographs taken by couples of each other and only kept for private use.

The guidance is very weak.

It will have to be tested and a few cases end up at the Lords for some precedents to be set.

If you are into a more alternative lifestyle, (bdsm) then you may find that you are already breaking the law! for more information regarding it go to www . thepsannertrust.org or  www . backlash-uk.org.uk   It also has information regarding the changes in relation to pornographic image and consensual acts                                                                                                                                                                              

Well precisely... but those who have been known to indulge in a little bdsm are mostly reasonably informed...

It's yer Joe Public that really needs to be made aware of this latest round of half-baked rule-making. As pointed out - some of the images that could potentially be said to contravene this legislation would in no way, shape or form, be considered to be pornographic by the vast majority of people.

No offence TC, but lovely though your horned nipple may be, I don't classify an image of it as pornographic
                                                                                                                                                                             

Wb will it not end up in Europe court and what about the crucifix will that get you into trouble                                                                                                                                                                             

I'm not going to lose any sleep over the crucifix Mick - they've already booked my heretical arse for a burning over turning up at bikers rallies in a Ka                                                                                                                                                                               

But yeah... I guess you're right... It'll be the good old European Court of Yooman Roights                                                                                                                                                                               

what if you take the photo of yourself???                                                                                                                                                                             

You should know what it looks like by now Matt.                                                                                                                                                                             

Your guess is as good as anyone's at the mo 

It's not the taking of the photo that's the problem... it's the possession of the resultant image... there are also fears that even just *looking* at contravening images online will be made an offence... how can you tell that an image is going to contravene the Law BEFORE you've looked at it?! (Not downloading - looking at it in situ)

Maybe they'll make just thinking about getting a PA done an offence next?! 
                                                                                                                                                                             

What about existing ones, purchased pre reg:!?