Obscene Publications Act

• Obscene Publications Act 1857
• Obscene Publications Act 1959
• Obscene Publications Act 1964

Of these, only the 1959 and 1964 acts are still in force in the UK, as amended by more recent legislation. They define the legal bounds of obscenity in the UK, and are used to enforce the censorship of obscene material.

Note: Irish law diverged from UK law in 1929, replacing the OPA 1857 with a new Irish act: see Irish censorship law.

Important events in UK obscenity law:

• 1960: Lady Chatterley's Lover obscenity trial
• 1971: Schoolkids' Oz[?] obscenity trial

See also:

• British Board of Film Classification
• Lord Chamberlain's office[?]
• Video Recording Act 1984[?]

External links

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-nireland/A669530
• Liberty guide to the Obscene Publications Act (http://www.yourrights.org.uk/your-rights/chapters/the-right-of-free-expression/criminal-law-restrictions-on-freedom-of-expression/obscenity.shtml)