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Criminal Defence

Advice on Obscenity

Raj Chada
Partner
Ruth Harris
Ruth Harris
Partner
Caroline Liggins
Caroline Liggins
Partner
Chloe Hartnell
Chloe Hartnell
Partner
Darrell Ennis-Gayle
Darrell Ennis-Gayle
Partner
Graeme Hydari
Graeme Hydari
Partner
Jessica Davis
Partner
Kerry Spence
Kerry Spence
Partner
Laura O'Brien
Laura O’Brien
Partner
Mike Schwarz
Mike Schwarz
Partner
Sean Caulfield
Sean Caulfield
Partner
Ailsa McNeil
Ailsa McNeil
Solicitor
Amy Coulter
Amy Coulter
Solicitor
Aneka Thirurajah
Aneka Thirurajah
Senior Associate
Anna Williams
Anna Williams
Paralegal
Ben Follows
Ben Follows
Paralegal
Bethany Gerrard
Bethany Gerrard
Trainee
Casey Jenkins
Senior Associate
Earnestina Rajaratnam
Earnestina Rajaratnam
Paralegal
Eliza Bell
Trainee
Elizabeth Andrewartha
Solicitor
Ella Ferriter
Paralegal
Emily McNally
Emily McNally
Solicitor
Fatima Qaid
Fatima Qaid
Paralegal
Francesca Cociani
Francesca Cociani
Senior Associate
George Steel
George Steel
Solicitor
Georgia Prichard
Georgia Prichard
Trainee
Ghislaine Sandoval
Ghislaine Sandoval
Associate
Hannah Hendy
Paralegal
Jessica Atkinson
Jessica Atkinson
Solicitor
Jessica Murray
Jessica Murray
Associate
Jiawen Guo
Paralegal
Justin Stuart-Mills
Consultant Solicitor
Katie McFadden
Katie McFadden
Associate
Katy O'Mara
Katy o’Mara
Associate
Kiran Mehta
Kiran Mehta
Consultant
Lara Ideo
Solicitor
Marina Afzal-Khan
Marina Afzal-Khan
Paralegal
May Spencer
May Spencer
Paralegal
Michael Ackah
Senior Associate
Priya Pandya
Priya Pandya
Paralegal
Rabiah Farooq
Rabiah Farooq
Trainee
Rebecca Field
Rebecca Field
Solicitor
Scarlett Roberts
Trainee
Shelby Keppel
Shelby Keppel
Consultant
Shyan MacTavish_Website
Shyan MacTavish
Associate
Somaya Yassine_Website
Somaya Yassine
Paralegal
Tosin Akinboboye
Tosin Akinboboye
Solicitor
Viviane Bablin
Viviane Bablin
Solicitor

Our leading solicitors are renowned for their specialist knowledge and practice in the area of obscenity and freedom of speech. We're possibly the only law firm in the United Kingdom to specialise in this niche area of law.

At Hodge Jones & Allen, we believe that censorship must only be used in the most exceptional circumstances and should be robustly challenged.

HJA Chambers firm logo 2025Our Crime team have been ranked in the Chambers UK 2025 legal directory. The team were praised for their “100% commitment to their client” and “for delivering an excellent service.”

Legal 500 UK - Top Tier Firm-2025“They have able in-house advocates who have real expertise in this area. This does not come at the expense of their general crime practice.”Legal 500, 2025

The law on obscenity

The law here on obscenity is contained in the Obscene Publications Act 1959 and the archaic test is whether an item would ‘tend to deprave or corrupt’ its viewer. This is effectively the same law that was used to prosecute Penguin Books in the ‘Lady Chatterley’ trial and similar to that used in the infamous ‘Oz’ trial.

Whilst society and standards have changed drastically since the 1950s, this law is still used to criminalise those who the authorities think have overstepped the mark. Whilst we recognise that such material may be controversial, we believe that censorship must be robustly challenged in the courts and only used in the most exceptional circumstances.

 

We have acted in groundbreaking cases defending the rights of the individual. This includes the case of R v GS in which the Court of Appeal determined that internet ‘chat’ between two people was publication of material and therefore falls within the Obscene Publications Act 1959 – a worrying decision concerning personal privacy.

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Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen?

We regularly advise both individuals and businesses on the law surrounding obscenity. Our experienced Criminal Defence solicitors are independently recognised by legal directories as leading lawyers in their field, whilst we’re unique in specialising in the niche area of law surrounding obscenity.

We have advised radical artists and galleries on the contents of their works and magazines on whether their materials contravene the legislation.

We frequently assist businesses, including those in the adult industry, by reviewing their products and advertising materials and providing reassurance to banks or backers that that they have not inadvertently broken the law.

Contact us for expert legal advice on obscenity on
0330 822 3451
or request a call back.
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