PORNOGRAPHIC PICTURES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29154, 15 March 1960, Page 14

PORNOGRAPHIC PICTURES

“Vast Industry In West End”

/Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 8 p.m.)

LONDON, March 13.

There is a vast big money pornographic picture industry centred in London’s West End, according to Mr John Baird, Labour M.P. for Wolverhampton. He said he was collecting much information about it by private inquiries. Speaking in the House of Commons during questions on allegations of corruption against officers of Scotland Yard’s West End vice squad in connexion with the sale of pornographic literature, Mr Baird said: “London is now the centre for the production of pornographic pictures. Buyers come from all over this country and Europe to so-called auction sales where they buy pictures in bulk. The money involved in this sale of filth amounts to hundreds of thousands of pounds annually.”

He claimed the' police had been too lenient with shops peddling pornographic pictures. Mr David Renton, the Home Office Under-secretary, said the corruption allegations against the police were fully investigated and found to be groundless. He asked Mr Baird to let him have any information in his possession, promising it would be studied with care and interest. Mr Baird afterwards told the “News Chronicle”: “I have a great deal of evidence about this horrible trade. A lot of people in the pictures are young men and women, quite often juveniles from the provinces. They are lured into this revolting trade by agents who approach them at main London railway stations. “I have details about the studios where the pictures are taken and the rooms where auction sales have taken place in Soho although the venues are often changed in order to avoid detection. Many letters have reached me, including letters from people in prison giving information about this trade. I believe more than one officer is involved.”