Two video shops in York Way have been fined a combined total of £5,900 with costs of £1,428 after officers from Islington Council’s trading standards team and police raided them in April 2004.<br><br>On 3 May 2005 and 17 May 2005, Highbury Magistrates Court heard that the two shops based at 4 and 18 York Way were found to be selling unclassified sex videos in breach of the Video Recordings Act 1984. Over 900 illegal videos and DVDs were seized in the raids.<br><br>Unlike sex shops, video shops do not need a licence but all videos must carry a classification as set down by the British Board of Film Classification, e.g. PG or 18.<br><br>18R videos are restricted for sale in sex shops only.<br><br>Anthony Putnam of Rush Green, Essex was found to be selling unclassified sex videos and Restricted-18 sex videos from a shop known as ‘The Bookshop’ of 4 York Way, N1. Putnam pleaded guilty to nine specimen charges and was fined £1,600 with £228 costs. Ballaction Ltd, the company responsible for the business, was fined £4,000 with £1,000 costs for the same offences.<br><br>John Camilleri of London SE11 was also found to be possessing for supply illegal sex videos from premises known as ‘Bookshop Videos’ at 18 York Way. He pleaded guilty to six specimen offences and was fined a total of £300 with £200 costs. Charges against another man were dropped. <br><br>All the video works were forfeited to the council who will now destroy them.<br><br>Cllr George Allan, exucutive member for public protection said:<br><br>"The recent prosecution is another success for Islington Council’s trading standards team who are fighting a battle against retailers selling unclassified videos in the borough.<br><br>We want to make it very clear that retailers must not sell unclassified videos. <br><br>We will continue to prosecute those who break the law."<br><br>ENDS<br><br><br><br>Notes:<br><br>The Video Recordings Act 1984 requires all video works to be classified by the British Board of Film Classification. The videos seized were either not marked at all or were marked R18, which means they can only be sold in a licensed sex shop. Neither of the two shops are licensed premises.
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009