Criminalising extreme pornography : a lost opportunity.

Abstract

Evaluates the criminal law regime governing pornography. Comments on the regulation of pornography prior to 2009. Examines features of the offence of possession of extreme pornographic images created by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, including the meanings of "pornographic", "extreme" and "possession", the provisions on excluded and extracted images and the available defences and penalties. Notes the extent to which the 2008 Act provisions as enacted differ from earlier proposals. Traces the weakening in the bases of justification for the provisions from one of cultural harm to direct harm to disgust.