What's the score with customs?

[jobbydealer]

If you buy a video whether it be inside the UK or from elsewhere as a private individual then subject to the video not being obscene you can bring it into the UK. There is no law that says that you have to buy an R18 video, the law says that's all you can sell.

Neither the police or customs can say what is obscene they can only put to a jury a video which they believe to be such.

If you visit Amsterdam and buy a hardcore video and bring it back through customs then they can take the video from you and test it for obscenity by way of Sec 3 or Sec 2 of the Obscene Publications Act.

If you bought a video by mail order from Amsterdam then the contract is made in the UK and just as with cigarettes this is distance selling and then they could sieze the video - even if it was by Walt Disney, because no certification exists.

A bit far fetched but I'm trying to keep this short.

In short the offence is selling not buying. Children and Animals would not normally come into the equation as these would be prosecuted under different Acts and rightfully so.

A good book to read is Obscenity, by Geoffrey Robinson which will give you an in depth account of all matters regarding porn.

[goldenballs]

I received a DVD today through the post from Excalibur in the States, its the second DVD I've received from them in recent weeks. The package wasn't opened or anything, but the green customs sticker on the package had 'RECORDED EDUCATIONAL FILM' stamped onto the description box, same thing happened last time. Considering the package obviously contains a DVD it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what the package might contain. Makes me even more suprised that it wasn't opened, hardly what I'd call discreet.

[joe king]

is it me or are you talking tripe?
'but they can't exactly complain to illegal traders if they get shoddy or soft content' - oh yes they can - under the consumer protection act

'What is certain that if you brought say a suitcase of uncertificated material into the UK then you would be busted for sure'

Why is that so certain? If it were r18 type then you can say it's for my collection, my personal use just like importing 3000 packets of cigarettes and booze.

[philk]

Giles wrote:

> The melonfarmers site does deal with this point. It's a great
> site and have long thought that the mods should add it to their
> links.

It already is: Industry - Resource Sites