M.P.s invited to see ‘video nasty’

Press, 7 October 1985, Page 5

M.P.s invited to see ‘video nasty’

Auckland Members of Parliament have been invited to the hotel room of a visiting British police expert on pornography and violence for a private screening of a “video nasty” banned in Britain.

Earlier the policeman, Chief Superintendent Peter Kruger, former. chief of Scotland Yard’s obscene publications branch, had refused to show a special video “nasty” tape at Parliament because it had not been cleared by the Film Censor.

Mr Kruger has been flown to New Zealand by the Society for the Pro-

motion of Community Standards. The original videotape, which he will be unable to show in this country, is an amalgamation of some of the worst video violence and obscenities circulating in Britain. He said in Auckland last evening that the video, prepared for police training purposes, was subsequently shown by him to the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the European Parliament in Strasbourg. His tape, sent in advance so that it could be classified by the Film Censor here, has not received approval. The Customs Department has withheld it.

Thus the society and Mr Kruger hope to beat the ban by inviting about 30 members of Parliament to his Wellington hotel to see a full video “nasty” called “Driller Killer” which is made up of some of the composite tape and is banned in Britain. The “Driller Killer” video has been passed by the New Zealand censor for screening in private homes.

Mr Kruger said about 100 British members of Parliament attended his showing of the composite tape. Half walked out disgusted. Reactions at the House of Lords, and at Strasbourg were similar.