25 yrs on, UK blunder lets porn be sold legally to kids

LONDON: Retailers who sell children violent or pornographic videos will be immune from prosecution for the next three months after the discovery
of a government blunder 25 years ago.

Britain should have notified the European Commission of the existence of the Video Recordings Act 1984 (VRA) — which regulated the industry — but failed to do so.

“Unfortunately, discovery of this omission means that, a quarter of a century later, VRA is no longer enforceable against individuals in UK courts,” said Barbara Follett, minister for culture and tourism.

Follett said people currently being prosecuted under the act would not be convicted until a new act can take legal effect in three months, the period required for consultation with other EU member states. In the interim, people will be able to sell pornographic and violent videos to children under the age of 18 without fear of prosecution.

However anyone previously convicted under the act will not be able to appeal their case. The British Video Association asked its members to comply with the provisions on a voluntary basis.