Indecent Images Offences

The two main offence provisions in this area are section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978 (PCA 1978) and section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (CJA 1988). The acts penalise the making, distribution, showing, possession of and advertising of indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children. The word indecent is not defined but is left to the jury to decide based on the recognised standards of propriety.

Possession of indecent images relates to child pornography and sentences vary depending on the number of images found and their content. There are 5 categories of content ranging from erotic posing (low sentence) to sadism or bestiality (high sentence). Potential defences for possession of indecent images or child pornography can be varied. You may have a legitimate reason for possessing them, you may not have seen them or you may have unknowingly been sent indecent photos of children and not kept them long. We have represented and obtained acquittals for defendants who never knew that they possessed such images.

This area of the law can be difficult for everyone, from the alleged victims to those accused of such crimes. At Murray’s solicitors we have a great deal of experience in this area and can deal sensitively with the enormous stresses it can put on the lives of the people involved.