Lad Mags Off Top Shelf

Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, today welcomed new guidelines to be issued by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, the body representing newsagents in the UK, but warned that “voluntary codes are only sufficient if they are adhered to”. After mounting pressure from Diane’s campaign as well as consumer and parents’ groups the body will publish a fresh set of guidelines pertaining to the display of materials with pornographic content in newsagents.  

Diane said: “A local newsagent in my Stoke Newington constituency has been running a campaign to rid his shop of offensive materials for 16 years. I was more than happy to get involved and the campaign has gained real momentum over the past few weeks.” She added: “I am absolutely delighted at the success of the campaign which has been supported by newsagents, women’s as well as parent’s groups. The new code is much more elaborate than the existing one and is a first step in the right direction. It strikes a balance between censorship and making sure that vulnerable children are protected from pornographic images.”

Existing NFRN guidelines cover only hard core pornographic materials, or ‘adult top-shelf titles’, but the new code of practice relates also to so-called ‘lads mags’ as well as tabloids and other news publications. It stipulates that these types of publications should be displayed out of sight and reach of children and be separate from children’s titles.

Diane said: “I have long called for an overhaul of media regulation when it comes to offensive materials. Pornography should be sold appropriately – on the top shelf – way out of reach and sight of young children. So-called ‘lads-mags’ and some of the tabloids contain very disturbing and degrading images of women and are currently readily available on the bottom shelf in full view and reach of young children.”

She went on: “Everyday it becomes clearer that exposure to pornography has a harmful effect on young children. Only yesterday a 15-year-old boy admitted raping four primary school girls and apparently it was triggered by his exposure to violent pornography.”

Diane added: “these new guidelines are a victory for parent power and for gender equality.  It also shows that public attitudes are changing and that era of normalising sexual or exploitative images of women is no longer considered acceptable.”

Diane concluded: “I am very pleased that new codes of practice are to be published, but a voluntary code is only sufficient if it is adhered to”. I will keep a close eye on developments to make sure that this good practice is in fact implemented. If the code proves ineffective I will push for a statutory instrument requiring newsagents to sell titles containing pornographic materials from the top shelf.”

Notes for editors:

•  At a meeting held on 8^th march 2006 the Home Office invited feedback from newsagents and other relevant bodies in response to growing public concern over the display of ‘lads mags’ and certain tabloids in newsagents. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Association of Retailers, the Department for Trade and Industry, the British Retail Consortium and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents.

1. In February Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney north and Stoke Newington, put down a Commons Motion calling for offensive materials to be taken off the bottom shelves and be displayed in a much more responsible manner than is currently the case. Please see EDM 1622.
2. The guidelines will be made public by the NFRN next week.