On Monday 26 January, possession of "extreme" adult pornography will be a criminal offence. The law makes no distinction between whether acts are real or staged, and whether they were consensual or not. The law criminalises based on what images appear to show, not what actually happened. The law applies to images online, private home-made photos, and even screenshots from legal films.

The Consenting Adult Action Network has organised a protest:

Join us to mark the death of another freedom.

At 2-5pm
On Sunday 25th January 2009
Parliament Square Westminster, London.

Beware the kinky porn ban!

On the eve of the kinky porn ban commencing, CAAN are back in London for another awareness raising action about laws which criminalise adults because of their sexuality. A law we don't think the Government is publicising widely enough, which all adults who possess or access pornography need to know about.

This law is based on lack of evidence and lies!

Provisions 63 to 67 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 come into effect on 26th January 2009. Despite lack of evidence, the government claims criminalising of the possession of what it calls 'extreme pornography' will reduce sex crime. In fact, what evidence exists provides grounds for thinking this measure will have exactly the opposite effect to that intended - making sex crime MORE prevalent.

This law creates harmless criminals!

This law now gives the police the power to invade anyone's home and interfere with their privacy. Convictions for possessing extreme porn will carry up to 3 years jail sentence and inclusion on the Sex Offender Register. Just for possessing an image.

This law gives murderers and abusers excuses!

Abuse is illegal, holding images of crimes is illegal and material which promotes abuse is illegal, and quite rightly so – so where's the need for a new law? This law is aimed at consensually made adult fantasy images and based on the bad excuses of a murderer. "The pictures made me do it".

What do we want? Autonomy! When do we want it? Now!

Please join us. Feel free to bring placards and banners and dress as you please, as long as it's not obscene or involving nudity. Yes, you can bring masks, chains and cuffs. Do not bring: alcohol, non prescription drugs or weapons.

If you can attend the action, or are able to assist with things behind the scenes like transporting equipment, people, or donating resources during the time surrounding the action, please get in touch with us ASAP at  info@caan.org.uk

CAAN's Statement:

"We believe in the right of consenting adults to make their own sexual choices, in respect of what they do, see and enjoy alone or with other consenting adults, unhindered and unfettered by government." "We believe that it is not the business of government to intrude into the sex lives of consenting adults."

If you'd like to support this simple notion, please Sign Up  http://www.caan.org.uk/sign.php

CAAN Consenting Adult Action Network  http://www.caan.org.uk

FURTHER INFORMATION: The extreme porn ban commences 26th January.  http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20082993_en_1 this is the commencement notice.

For anyone who still wasn't aware of this here's some links:

CJIA clauses which criminalise extreme pornography:  http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2008/ukpga_20080004_en_9#pt5-pb1-l1g63

Government guidance:  http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/extreme-pornographic-images.pdf

Backlash - legal advice upon arrest:  http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/219063/