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Sex shop owner fined after dvds and videos seized

Tuesday, 14 August 2007

The owner of Belfast sex shop, Misstique, was today fined a total of £546 at Belfast Magistrates' Court for offences under the Video Recordings Act.

In a case brought by the Trading Standards Service of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Christopher Hallam, who trades as Misstique at 27 Gresham Street, Belfast, today pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Act.

On 19 June 2006, Trading Standards Officers visited the premises of Misstique as part of an exercise into the trading practices of the adult entertainment outlets, commonly referred to as sex shops, in the centre of Belfast.

Over 300 DVDs and videos were seized, either because they were unclassified or were marked with an R18 classification. DVDs and videos are required to be marked with a classification and those marked with an R18 classification can only be sold in a licensed sex shop. Mr Hallam was not in possession of such a licence.

The court also agreed to a forfeiture order in respect of the video tapes and DVDs which had been seized.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Eight specimen charges were brought under the Video Recordings Act 1984; four under section 10(1) of the Act and four under 12(3) of the Act.
  2. Under section 10(1) of the Act it is an offence to be in possession for supply of video or DVD works which are not labeled with a classification. Classification certificates are issued by the British Board of Film Classification (the BBFC).
  3. Under section 12(3) of the Act it is an offence to be in possession for supply of video or DVD works labeled with an R18 classification on business premises other than a licensed sex shop. For the premises in question it is Belfast City Council which has the responsibility for such licences and at the time of the enforcement visit no such licence had been granted to Mr Hallam.
  4. Under section 21 of the Act, where a person is convicted of any offence under the Act, the court may order any video or DVD connected to the offences to be forfeited.
  5. For media enquiries please contact Lesley Dempster in the DETI Press Office, telephone 028 9052 9297 or 07866 847919.
  6. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.