A FRINGE meeting on pornography addressed by Mary Whitehouse was picketed yesterday by Simone described as a Page Three girl from an erotic video magazine and a pressure group, Conservatives Against Sex Censorship (Casc). Sean Gabb, Casc's secretary, blamed socialists and feminists for increasing demands for censorship, and said it was unfortunate that 'some so called Conservatives give their backing to the far left demands for even more state censorship in this country.

'They want to 'nationalise' morality in exactly the same way they attempted to nationalise the economy. They are out to impose their personal values on all of us,' he said.

But Casc received no support inside the packed meeting, addressed by Mrs Whitehouse, Superintendent Michael Hames, of Scotland Yard's Obscene Publications squad, and Tim Tate, author of a book on child pornography. Mr Hames said that police intelligence sources indicated thatthere was still considerable contact between paedophiles in Europe and America. Many paedophiles had left the country because they found the attention of the police and the media too restrictive. 'At the moment we are net exporters of paedophiles.'

Peter Lloyd, the junior Home Office minister, said a report would be published on whether there was a link between child pornography and crime.

The Guardian
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