Child pornography laws in England and Wales are covered by the Protection of Children Act 1978 ("the 1978 Act"), which made it illegal to take, make, distribute, show, or possess for the intent of showing or distributing an indecent photograph of someone under the age of 16.
[2] Indecency is to be interpreted by a jury, who should apply the recognised standards of propriety.
[4] The Sexual Offences Act 2003 amended the general age of subjects under the act from 16 to 18 (although added in exemptions in law for which images of a person above the age of consent (16) were to remain lawful, provided that the images in question were kept private and between two parties in a legal relationship).
[6] In 2009, cartoon sexual images depicting minors, not just those that were derived from photographs or pseudo-photographs, were criminalised by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, under which any possession of images also became a criminal offence (whereas before it was legal to possess hard copies of images so long as there was no intention to show or distribute them to others).
[7] Similar legal provisions exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland but the 1978 Act does not extend to there.