Video Recordings Bill…Lords debate replacement on VRA

Read more UK Parliament Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See bill status from services.parliament.uk See debate transcription from publications.parliament.uk

The Video Recordings Bill has received its 2nd Reading in the House of Lords on 18th January 2010. The bill was unopposed and the short debate centred on the legal status of past prosecutions. The committee and report stages were rubber stamped with no amendments or debate The 3rd reading is now scheduled for 20th January 2010 and the bill will then come into force immediately on Royal Assent.

Clearcast Bullies…TV advert censor bans bullying advert suitable for 12A cinema showings

Read more Advertising News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from telegraph.co.uk See advert from youtube.com See also www.cybermentors.org.uk

An anti-bullying advert that was ruled ‘too shocking’ to appear on television has been launched online. The film, which includes scenes where a teenage girl sews her own mouth shut, will be also be shown in cinemas before films rated 12A and above. It is part of a £1.2 million campaign launched by children’s charity Beatbullying. The advert promotes a website, cybermentors.org.uk, which allows young people who have been bullied to help each other and discuss their problems. A spokeswoman for Clearcast, which decides which adverts can be shown on British television, said it was felt some scenes would be viewed as offensive. Beatbullying’s chief executive, Emma-Jane Cross, said: We are proud of this advert and the way it makes you stop and understand the impact bullying can have on its victims. But we were disappointed that Clearcast refused to let this advert go on to TV. We know that 69% of young people have been bullied and it is imperative that people know cybermentors.org.uk is there to give them support.