The BBFC

The BBFC are a independent, self-financing and not-for-profit media content regulator. they operate transparent, consistent and trusted co-regulatory and self-regulatory classification and labelling systems in the UK.

a list of the BBFC's codes and conventions are 

• protect  the public, and especially children, from content which might raise harm risks

• empower the public, especially parents, to make informed viewing choices

• recognise and respect adult freedom of choice within the law

• respond to and reflect changing social attitudes towards media content through proactive public consultation and research

• provide a cost-effective, efficient classification service within our statutory remit

• work in partnership with the industry to develop innovative service models to provide content advice which support emerging media delivery systems

• provide an effective service to enforcement agencies

Classification system 

All classification decisions are based on the BBFC’s published and regularly updated Guidelines. The Guidelines are the product of extensive public consultation, research and the accumulated experience of the BBFC over many years. They reflect current views on film, DVD and video game regulation.

	Universal	All ages admitted, there is nothing unsuitable for children.
	Parental Guidance	All ages admitted, but certain scenes may be unsuitable for young children. May contain mild language and sex/drugs references. May contain moderate violence if justified by context (e.g. fantasy).
	12A	Cinema only. Introduced in 2002. Films under this category are considered to be unsuitable for very young people. Those aged under 12 years are only admitted if accompanied by an adult, aged at least 18 years, at all times during the motion picture. However, it is generally not recommended that children under 12 years should watch the film. Films under this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, moderate swear words, infrequent strong language and moderate violence/sex references.
	12	Home media only since 2002. 12A-rated films are usually given a 12 certificate for the VHS/DVD version unless extra material has been added that requires a higher rating. Nobody younger than 12 can rent or buy a 12-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game. Films in this category may include infrequent drugs, infrequent use of strong language, brief nudity, discreet sexual activity, and moderate violence.
	15	Only those over 15 years are admitted. Nobody younger than 15 can rent or buy a 15-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game, or watch a film in the cinema with this rating. Films under this category can contain adult themes, hard drugs, strong language and one use of very strong language, moderate-strong violence/sex references, and undetailed sex activity.
	18	Only adults are admitted. Nobody younger than 18 can rent or buy an 18-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game, or watch a film in the cinema with this rating. Films under this category do not have limitation on the bad language that is used. Hard drugs are generally allowed, and strong violence/sex references along with strong sexual activity is also allowed. Scenes of strong real sex may be permitted if justified by the context.
	Restricted 18	Can only be shown at licensed adult cinemas or sold at licensed sex shops, and only to adults, those aged 18 or over. Films under this category are always hard-core pornography, defined as material intended for sexual stimulation and containing clear images of real sexual activity, strong fetish material, explicit animated images, or sight of certain acts such as triple simultaneous penetration and snowballing. There remains a range of material that is often cut from the R18 rating: strong images of injury in BDSM or spanking works, urolagnia, scenes suggesting incest even if staged, references to underage sex or childhood sexual development and aggressive behaviour such as hair-pulling or spitting on a performer are not permitted. More cuts are demanded in this category than any other category.[17]

BBFC or British Board of Film Classifications

RESEARCH:

It is perhaps attribute to the power of the moving image that it should be subject to far greater censorship than any other artistic medium. Current technology makes it effectively impossible to censor the written word. Theatre censorship was abolished in 1968 and there was never been any systematic regulation of other art forms- anyone seeking to clampdown on such events must mount a private prosecution, a lengthy and expensive process.

 Film and video releases in Britain are amongst the most tightly- regulated in the western World. With only a few exceptions every commercially released film both in cinemas and on video will have been vetted by the British Board of Film Classification originally founded in 1912 as the British Board of Film Censors which applies age restrictive classifications, and in some cases, recommends cutting or otherwise altering the film in order to conform to their guidelines. These guidelines are based on two main factors: legal requirements (for instant unsimulated animal cruelty, indecent images of children) and the BBFC’s own policies.

The latter have changed enormously over the last century, ranging from rigidly applied lists of forbidden topics to the current context-based system where artistic merit is a key factor in assessing individual films.

Though this approach has undoubtedly led to a number of important films being passed either uncut or with a milder age restriction than one would expect, it is also controversial, duo to the inevitable inconsistency.

Some films are treated much more leniently than others with very similar content, as a result of largely subjective judgements by a handful of people.

Contrary to popular belief, the BBFC is not a government organisation. In fact, central government has no direct involvement in film censorship beyond passing legislation affecting the BBFC’s activities. Local authorities have considerably more power, including the final say in whether or not certain films can be shown, thought in the vast majority of cases they are happy to accept the BBFC’s verdict. Indeed,, this is why the BBFC was created by the film industry in the first place.

The history of British film censorship is as much social as cultural.

The reasons films were banned in the 1920s (revolutionary politics) and 1950s (nudity) say as much about the society of the time as anything in the films. It is also revealing that in an era of far greater equality the BBFC is noticeably tougher on sexual violence today than it was 30 years ago, thought correspondingly much more relaxed about most other issues.

As technology develops, the BBFC’s role may well become less and less significant. A side effect of its stated commitment to greater openness is that it is now easy to find out if films have been cut in their British versions and current technology makes it equally simple to order uncut and unclassified videos and DVDs from elsewhere. Such material cannot be legally sold within the U.K. but there are no barriers to importation. If this practice becomes widespread enough to affect the British film industry economically, it is likely that pressure will be applied on the BBFC to reflect this.

FILM CLASSIFICATION

The BBFC & UK Law

The most significant piece of legislation to affect BBFC classification standards is the Video Recordings Act 1984. This Act requires all ‘video works’ (films, TV programmes, video games, etc) which are supplied on a disc, tape or any other device capable of storing data electronically to be classified by the BBFC, unless they fall within the definition of an exempted work.

Under this Act, the BBFC is obliged to have ‘special regard’ (among other relevant factors) to the likelihood of video works being viewed in the home, and to any harm that may be caused to potential viewers or, through their behaviour, to society by the manner in which the work deals with criminal behaviour, illegal drugs, violent behaviour or incidents, horrific behaviour or incidents, and human sexual activity. In considering these issues, the BBFC needs to be mindful of the possible effect not only on children but also on other vulnerable groups.

Video Recordings Act 2010 (VRA)

In January 2010, the Video Recordings Act 2010 (VRA 2010) came into force.  This simultaneously repealed and immediately revived without amendment the Video Recordings Act 1984, in order to correct a procedural error made during the passage of the VRA 1984.

The Human Rights Act 1998 establishes the right to freedom of expression, and the BBFC has to have regard to the impact of its decisions on the rights of any relevant person. The Act, however, permits such restrictions on freedom of expression as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society. These include the prevention of disorder or crime and the protection of health and morals.

The designation under which the BBFC operates in relation to ‘video works’ obliges the BBFC to seek to avoid classifying material which is itself in breach of UK law. The relevant laws include:

The Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964 which make it illegal to publish a work in the UK which is ‘obscene’. In order for a work to be found obscene, it must be taken as a whole and have a tendency to deprave and corrupt (eg make morally bad) a significant proportion of those likely to see it. If publication can be justified as being for the ‘public good’ on the grounds that it is in the interests of science, art, literature or learning or other objects of general concern, then no offence has been committed.

The Protection of Children Act 1978 makes it illegal to make, distribute, show or possess ‘indecent’ photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child (that is, someone under the age of 18 years).

The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 makes the possession of an ‘extreme pornographic’ image a criminal offence. The Act defines such an image as one which is pornographic and grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character and which portrays in an explicit and realistic way, an act which: threatens a person’s life; results, or is likely to result, in serious injury to a person’s anus, breasts or genitals; involves sexual interference with a human corpse; or involves bestiality. Works classified by the BBFC are excluded from this definition.

The Public Order Act 1986 makes it illegal to distribute or play to the public a recording of images or sounds which are threatening, abusive or insulting if the intention is to stir up racial hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation. Images and sounds which are threatening if the intention is to stir up religious hatred are also prohibited.

There are two Acts which cover animal welfare issues in films which the BBFC must also consider when classifying works. The Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 renders it illegal to show any scene ‘organised or directed’ for the purposes of a film that involves the cruel infliction of pain or terror on any animal or the cruel goading to fury to any animal. The Animal Welfare Act 2006makes it illegal to show or publish a recording of an animal fight which has taken place in the UK since 6 April 2007. An ‘animal’ is also defined as a vertebrate (but not in foetal or embryonic form) other than a man.

The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 makes it an offence to possess non-photographic fantasy images of child sexual abuse (ie. cartoons, drawings, computer generated images and other depictions). The Act strengthens the existing laws on child pornography to include non-photographic images of child abuse by creating an offence of possession of a ‘prohibited image of a child’.

Sense & Sensibilities:

Public Opinion & the BBFC Guidelines

by Pam Hanley

“http://www.bbfc.co.uk/download/guidelines/2000%20Guidelines%20Research%20-%20Sense%20and%20Sensibilities.pdf”