The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent company which has watching and classifing films for cinema since it was set up in 1912. It has also been classifing videos since the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984.
Cinema
The BBFC was set up in 1912 by the film industry as an independent company to try and work out a system of uniformity to the classification of film for everyone.
The films can be changed by the local councils who can have more power. They may overrule any of the Board's decisions i.e passing films they reject, ban films they have passed, waiving cuts, instituting new ones, or altering categories for films exhibited under their own licensing rules.
Video
In 1984 the Video Recordings Act was passed by Parliament. The act stated that, any video recordings offered for sale or for hire in the UK must be classified by an authority selected by the Secretary of State. The President and Vice Presidents of the BBFC were choosen to do carry out this act and were charged with applying the 'suitability for viewing in the home' classification. At this point the Board's title was changed to BBF Classification to reflect that classification played a far larger part in the work of the Bored than censorship.
Classification
The Classification categories are:
Universal - Suitable for all. Contain a possitive framework and contain no referances to violence or anything that could upset young children.
Parental Guidance - General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. Young children are adviced not to watch alone. Some scenes may be unsuitable for younger viewing.
Suitable for 12 years and over.
No-one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.
Suitable only for 15 years and over
No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video or DVD.
Suitable only for adults.
No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.
To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years.
The Video Recordings Act 1984
The Act requires the BBFC to have special regard (among the other relevant factors) to the likelihood of works being viewed in the home, and to
-any harm to those likely to view a video
-any harm to society through the behaviour of those viewers afterwards
In considering these issues the Board has in mind the possible effect not only on children but also on other vulnerable people.
The Act further requires that special regard is paid to the manner in which the work deals with
-criminal behaviour
-use of illegal drugs
-violent behaviour or incidents
-horrific behaviour or incidents
-human sexual activity
The Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937
It is illegal to show any scene ‘organised or directed’ for the purposes of the film to involve actual cruelty to animals.
The Protection of Children Act 1978
It is illegal to show indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child (under the age of 18).
The Obscene Publications Act 1959
It is illegal to show a work which is obscene. A work may be found obscene if, taken as a whole, it has a tendency to deprave and corrupt (ie make morally bad) a significant proportion of those likely to see it.
Human Rights Act 1998
Among the rights established under this Act are the right to private life and family, and the right to freedom of expression. When classifying works, the BBFC will have regard to the impact of any decision on the rights of any relevant person.
The Act permits such restrictions on freedom of expression as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.
The Licensing Act 2003
Cinemas require a licence from the local authority in which they operate. The licence must include a condition requiring the admission of children (under 18) to any film to be restricted having regard to the recommendations of the BBFC. The licensing objectives are;
-the prevention of crime and disorder
-public safety
-the prevention of public nuisance
-the protection of children from harm
-Other unlawful material
In carrying out its responsibilities, the Board will have regard to whether the material itself appears to be unlawful in the United Kingdom, or has arisen from the commission of an unlawful act.
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