What is Legal? At about the time when hardcore was legalised, the law enforcement agencies got together and agreed that they would all adhere to the BBFC guidelines for R18 videos: The following content is not acceptable: any material which is in breach of the criminal law material likely to encourage an interest in abusive sexual activity (eg paedophilia, incest) which may include depictions involving adults role-playing as non-adults the portrayal of any sexual activity, whether real or simulated, which involves lack of consent the infliction of pain or physical harm, real or (in a sexual context) simulated. Some allowance may be made for mild consensual activity any sexual threats or humiliation which do not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing game the use of any form of physical restraint which prevents participants from withdrawing consent, for example, ball gags penetration by any object likely to cause actual harm or associated with violence activity which is degrading or dehumanising (examples include the portrayal of bestiality, necrophilia, defecation, urolagnia) The following content, subject to the above, may be permitted: aroused genitalia masturbation oral-genital contact including kissing, licking and sucking penetration by finger, penis, tongue, vibrator or dildo non-harmful fetish material group sexual activity ejaculation and semen These guidelines make no distinction between heterosexual and homosexual activity.

 

Where Can I buy Hardcore Videos & DVDs? Hardcore videos may now be legally bought from: Any licensed sex shop in the UK Any unlicensed shop in the UK (*) Any UK based online sex shop (*) Any overseas based online sex shop. Any mail order company in the UK (*) Any mail order company based overseas (*) Note that although it is legal to buy, the seller may be liable to prosecution. In fact no UK company can legally sell unclassified DVDs or R18 DVDs via mail order. This has been confirmed by the High Court but is waiting further examination by the European Court. Note that companies are considered to be British if they are being controlled by people from Britain. The location of the web server for an internet site has no bearing on the issue. See also: Is it legal to import hardcore?

 

Where Can I buy Hardcore Magazines? Hardcore magazines may be bought from any UK shop. The restrictions on selling videos in licensed shops are limited to video material and do not apply to books and magazines. In fact even any 18 age restrictions are a matter of convention rather than law. Any high street newsagent Any licensed sex shop in the UK Any unlicensed shop in the UK Any UK based online sex shop Any overseas based online sex shop. Any mail order company in the UK Any mail order company based overseas   Is it legal to download hardcore from the Internet? Updated September 2006: The only legal restrictions on downloading and possession of pornography at the moment is that the material should be adult and consensual. This means that extreme material such as scat, bestiality etc is currently legal. However, be aware that the Government have stated that they will introduce a law to make criminalise the downloading and possession of bestiality, necrophilia and violent pornography featuring life threatening violence (even if staged and nobody is actually been hurt). The Government have suggested that they will imprison viewers of such material by up to 3 years in prison. See the violent porn page for the latest news on the Government's proposals   Is it legal to publish hardcore on the Internet? There is now a unified approach to all media amongst the enforcement agencies, eg police, CPS, Customs, Trading Standards etc. The BBFC R18 guidelines are used to define what is legal to publish  over the Internet. So now it is perfectly legal to publish hardcore in the UK. And in fact UK publishers can legally provide streaming or downloadable video without the need for a sex shop licence. However the Obscene Publications Act still applies to internet publishing. It is currently considered illegal to publish extreme pornography such as scat, bestiality, fisting and pissing. Theoretically it is up to a jury whether such material is actually considered obscene, but in reality, the prosecutors have stitched up the law to maintain their view of what they consider obscene.

What do the BBFC Certificates Mean?   Issued by the BBFC to indicate that a video/DVD maybe legally sold in a licensed sex shop. All R18 videos classified since August 2000 contain hardcore material. The majority of R18 videos are the same versions as sold in the US or Europe. The only common prohibition not made clear in the guidelines is that the BBFC do not like 'rough sex'. Spitting, hair pulling and partial asphyxiation are all routinely cut. 18 rated videos may be sold in any shop in the UK and are softcore. There a few exceptions for 'worthy' films and sex education videos where 18 videos may contain some hardcore scenes. No Certificate There are no legal problems in buying uncertificated videos from abroad or from foreign websites as long as they are with in the BBFC R18 guidelines detailed above. Videos featuring pissing or fisting are considered outside of the BBFC R18 guidelines and are liable to confiscation. One can also purchase uncertificated videos from UK shops, UK websites or via UK mail order companies. The seller is liable to prosecution but the buyer is not breaking any laws.

 

Any Suggestions For Good Shops? Sex Shops I maintain a list of UK & Ireland sex shops many of which have reviews submitted by readers Online Shops I maintain a list of online shops selling DVDs and VHS Videos Video on Demand I maintain a list of web sites for video on demand