knuller v dpp case

7/23/2019 Knuller v DPP Case

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14 June 1972

Lord Reid , Lord Morris of Borth-Y-Gest , Lord Diplock , Lord i!on of Gl"isd"le "nd Lord

#il$r"ndon

1972 M"rch 7, %, 9, 1&, 1', 14, 1() June 14

*633 Knuller (Publishing, Printing and Promotions) Ltd. v Director of

Public Prosecutions

Keen v Director of Public Prosecutions

Stansill v Director of Public Prosecutions

Hall v Director of Public Prosecutions

*+n the ouse of Lords

(19!) "# $r. %&&. '. #

* Consolidated Appeals

.onspir"c/ to .orrupt 0u$lic Mor"lsd3ertise!ents in M""5ine6ncour"e!ent ofo!oseu"l 0r"cticeso!oseu"l cts in 0ri3"te Bet8een .onsentin dults no Loner

.ri!in"lhether :ffence #no8n to L"8hether d3ertise!ents ."p"$le of .onstitutin

.onspir"c/ to .orrupt;

.onspir"c/ to :utr"e 0u$lic Decenc/6le!ents of u$st"nti3e :ffence:utr"e0u$licit/Direction to Jur/d3ertise!ents in M""5ine6ncour"e!ent of o!oseu"l 0r"ctices

hether .onspir"c/ :ffence #no8n to the L"8hether 0u$lic"tion on +nside 0"es ofM""5ine ."p"$le of .onstitutin :ffence;

<he defend"nts took p"rt in pu$lishin " !""5ine 8hich h"d " f"irl/ l"re circul"tion; :n

the inside p"es of the !""5ine "ppe"red colu!ns of "d3ertise!ents he"ded =M"les;> +n

!ost c"ses the "d3ertise!ents 8ere inserted $/ ho!oseu"ls "nd their epress purpose8"s to "ttr"ct "ns8ers fro! persons 8ho 8ould indule in ho!oseu"l pr"ctices 8ith the

"d3ertisers; o!eti!es persons "ns8erin the "d3ertise!ents 8ere "sked to co!!unic"tedirectl/ 8ith the "d3ertisers) so!eti!es the/ 8ere "sked to send their "ns8ers to the

!""5ine for the purpose of these $ein for8"rded to the "d3ertisers; <he defend"ntsst"ted th"t the/ est"$lished this ser3ice to "3oid the need for resortin to other !ethods of

solicit"tion; <he defend"nts 8ere con3icted of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls "nd ofconspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/; :n "ppe"l $/ the defend"nts the con3ictions on $oth

ch"res 8ere "ffir!ed $/ the .ourt of ppe"l *634 ?.ri!in"l Di3ision@; :n "ppe"l $/ thedefend"nts to the ouse of Lords,

eldA



?i@ ?Lord Diplock dissentin@ th"t the con3ictions of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"lsshould $e "ffir!ed, since the eistence of th"t offence 8"s est"$lished $/ the decision in

h"8 3; Director of 0u$lic 0rosecutions ?191@ 4( .r;pp;R; 11') *192 ;.; 22& "nd theouse ouht to follo8 th"t decision) "nd th"t, "lthouh $/ 3irtue of the eu"l :ffences ct

197 " ho!oseu"l "ct $et8een "dult !"les in pri3"te 8"s no loner " cri!e, it 8"s opento " Cur/ to s"/ th"t to "ssist or to encour"e persons to t"ke p"rt in such "cts !iht $e to

corrupt the!;

?ii@ ?Lord Morris of Borth-/-Gest dissentin@ th"t the con3ictions of conspir"c/ to outr"e

pu$lic decenc/ should $e u"shed; :n " ch"re of co!!ittin "n "ct outr"in pu$licdecenc/ " Cur/ should $e directed th"t =outr"e,> like =corrupt,> is " 3er/ stron 8ord, "nd

th"t the offence oes $e/ond offendin the suscepti$ilities of, or e3en shockin, re"son"$lepeople; Moreo3er, the offence is concerned 8ith reconised !ini!u! st"nd"rds of decenc/

"nd, not8ithst"ndin th"t the 8ord =pu$lic> is used in " loc"tion sense, pu$lic decenc/ !ust$e 3ie8ed "s " 8hole ? per Lord i!on of Gl"isd"le "nd Lord #il$r"ndon@; <he con3ictions in

the present c"se should $e u"shed on the rounds ? per Lord Reid@ th"t "n offence ofconspir"c/ in this ener"lised for! 8"s not kno8n to the l"8) ? per Lord i!on of Gl"isd"le

"nd Lord #il$r"ndon@ th"t, thouh conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/ 8"s "n offencekno8n to the l"8, the Cur/ h"d $een insufficientl/ directed 8ith re"rd to the

"fore!entioned inredients;

Per Lord Morris of Borth-/-Gest, Lord i!on of Gl"isd"le "nd Lord #il$r"ndon; <he offence of

conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/ !"/ $e co!!itted 8here there is "n "ree!ent toinsert outr"eousl/ indecent !"tter on the inside p"es of " $ook or !""5ine 8hich is sold

in pu$lic;

ppe"ls $/ the defend"nts ""inst "n order of the .ourt of ppe"l ?.ri!in"l Di3ision@

dis!issin their "ppe"ls ""inst con3iction;

<he "ppell"nts 8ere con3icted "t the .entr"l .ri!in"l .ourt on Eo3e!$er 1&, 197&, of

conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls ?count 1@ "nd conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/?count 2@; <he/ 8ere sentenced $/ is onour Jude utcliffe, the co!p"n/ to " fine of

F1,(&& "nd "n order to p"/ F(&& costs "nd e"ch *635 of the other "ppell"nts to eihteen!onths i!prison!ent ?suspended for t8o /e"rs@ "nd "n order to p"/ F2&& costs;

ppe"ls $/ the defend"nts ""inst con3iction 8ere dis!issed $/ the .ourt of ppe"l?.ri!in"l Di3ision@Henton "tkinson L;J;, Roskill J; "nd ."ulfield J; on Jul/ 1, 1971; <he

.ourt "3e le"3e to "ppe"l to the ouse of Lords, certif/in th"t the follo8in points of l"8of ener"l pu$lic i!port"nce 8ere in3ol3ed in their decisionA ?1@ "s to the first count,

8hether "n "ree!ent $/ t8o or !ore persons to insert "d3ertise!ents in " !""5ine,8here $/ "dult !"le "d3ertisers seek replies fro! other "dult !"les 8ho "re prep"red to

consent to co!!it ho!oseu"l "cts 8ith the! in pri3"te, is c"p"$le of "!ountin to the

offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls) ?ii@ "s to the second count, 8hether "n

"ree!ent to insert such "d3ertise!ents on the inside p"es of " !""5ine 8ith " 8idecircul"tion on s"le in pu$lic, "nd 8hich is $ein re"d indi3idu"ll/ "t "n/ one ti!e $/ "nu!$er of people in different pl"ces, is c"p"$le of "!ountin to the offence of conspir"c/ to

outr"e pu$lic decenc/;

<he "ppe"l 8"s he"rd $/ the ouse of Lords on M"rch 7, %, 9, 1&, 1', 14, 1(, 1972; :8into the lenth of this report it h"s $een necess"r/ to su!!"rise 3er/ $riefl/ the "ru!ents

in the ouse of Lords;



John Hazan, Q.C. "nd L. Britton , for the "ppell"nts; <he .ourt of ppe"l in dis!issin the"ppell"nts "ppe"l felt the!sel3es $ound $/ the decision in h"8 3; D;0;0; ?191@ 4(

.r;pp;R; 11' , $ut th"t decision c"n $e distinuished $/ re"son of the f"ct th"t since theeu"l :ffences ct 197 ho!oseu"l "cts $et8een "dult !"les in pri3"te "re no8 l"8ful,

"nd it 8ould $e inconsistent to hold th"t persons 8ho !erel/ put in touch 8ith e"ch other"dult !"les 8ho desire to indule in such conduct should $e uilt/ of "n offence; +n "n/

e3ent, the decision in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ !ust $e re"rded "s uns"tisf"ctor/ "ndshould $e reconsidered $/ the ouse, p"rticul"rl/ in 3ie8 of "n "ssur"nce i3en $/ theolicitor-Gener"l in the ouse of .o!!ons on June ', 194, repe"tin "n e"rlier "ssur"nce,

th"t =" conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls 8ould not *636 $e ch"red so "s to circu!3ent

the st"tutor/ defence in section 4 of the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 ;> ection 2 ?4@ ofth"t ct should $e interpreted "s precludin the $rinin of " ch"re of conspir"c/ to

corrupt pu$lic !or"ls if 8h"t is "lleed is th"t the conspir"c/ 8"s in respect of " pu$lic"tion8hich 8ould tend to depr"3e or corrupt re"ders; Moreo3er, there is "n ele!ent of

uncert"int/ "tt"chin to the offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls; person should$e "$le to reul"te his conduct 8ith full kno8lede 8hether th"t conduct 8ill "!ount to "

cri!e or not, "nd this c"nnot $e the position in the c"se of so 3"ue "n offence; Hurther, the8ords =or co!!on l"8 pro3ision> in section 1 of the eu"l :ffences ct 197 preclude the

ch"rin "t co!!on l"8 of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls 8here 8h"t is conte!pl"ted

"re ho!oseu"l "cts in pri3"te $et8een consentin "dults; Hurther, the su!!in-up on thiscount 8"s in"deu"te; <he Cur/ should h"3e $een directed th"t, if the/ considered th"t the"d3ertise!ents 8ere "ddressed onl/ to those 8ho "lre"d/ induled in ho!oseu"l conduct,

the/ should "cuit, "nd the/ did not recei3e "deu"te direction on the necessit/ of theintent "lleed in the indict!ent $ein pro3ed;

ith re"rd to the second count, thouh the eistence of the co!!on l"8 !isde!e"nour of outr"in pu$lic decenc/ is 8ell est"$lished, it !ust $e re"rded "s "t le"st dou$tful

8hether there c"n $e " conspir"c/ to co!!it the offence in " ener"lised for!; 63en if theoffence of conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/ $e held to eist, it 8"s not est"$lished in

this c"se; +t h"s ne3er $een "pplied to " $ook or pu$lic"tion; <here 8"s nothin to 8hich

o$Cection could $e t"ken on the outside of the !""5ines, "nd the "d3ertise!ents held to

$e o$Cection"$le 8ould "ppe"r onl/ to those 8ho opened the !""5ines "nd re"d their innerp"es; <he su$st"nti3e offence c"n $e co!!itted onl/ if so!e "ct ?such "s indecent

eposure@ is done in pu$lic, "nd the pu$lic ele!ent here 8"s l"ckin; <he Cur/ did notrecei3e "deu"te direction on the ele!ents of the su$st"nti3e offence;

John H. Buzzard, Q.C. "nd Richard D. L. du Cann , for the .ro8n; +t is su$!itted th"t h"83; D;0;0; ? supra @ 8"s rihtl/ decided "nd should $e follo8ed; <o o3errule the decision

8ould *637 introduce into the cri!in"l l"8 " 8ide field of uncert"int/; <he decision 8"st"citl/ "ppro3ed $/ the o!ission to de"l 8ith it 8hen the "!end!ent to the :$scene

0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 8"s !"de in 194, "nd further reconition 8"s i3en to it $/ section2 ?4@ of the <he"tres ct 19%; <here h"3e $een "t le"st thirt/ successful prosecutions for

conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls $"sed on the decision in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ "ndthere h"s $een no "tte!pt to 8iden the scope of the cri!e;

ith re"rd to the second count, "lthouh there h"s ne3er $een " prosecution forconspir"c/ 8ith re"rd to printed !"tter on s"le to the pu$lic, the f"cts pro3ed here

est"$lished the offence "nd it is uite unre"listic to dr"8 " distinction $et8een !"tter"ppe"rin on the outside "nd on the inside p"es of the !""5ine; +t is i!!"teri"l 8hether

the "lleed outr"e to decenc/ took pl"ce in pu$lic or not, pro3ided th"t the pu$lic or "

su$st"nti"l portion of the pu$lic 8ere outr"ed $/ it; <he Cur/ 8ere sufficientl/ directed onthis count in th"t the/ 8ere told th"t the/ h"d to $e s"tisfied th"t the "d3ertise!ents did



outr"e pu$lic decenc/ in the liht of present-d"/ st"nd"rds "nd th"t there 8"s "n"ree!ent to outr"e pu$lic decenc/ in this sense;

John Hazan, Q.C. replied;

<he c"ses cited in "ru!ent "re for the !ost p"rt referred to in the opinions of their

Lordships;

<he ouse took ti!e for consider"tion;

une 1*. +he folloing o&inions ere read.

Lord ReidA

M/ Lords, the "ccused took p"rt in pu$lishin " !""5ine 8hich cont"ined " 8ide 3"riet/ of

!"teri"l thouht to $e of interest to those holdin =proressi3e> 3ie8s; Much of this!"teri"l is uno$Cection"$le; o!e 8ould $e dist"steful to !"n/ people, so!e is !ore

o$Cection"$le; +n this c"se 8e "re onl/ concerned 8ith so!e colu!ns of "d3ertise!ents"ppe"rin on inner p"es of the !""5ine; <hese colu!ns "re he"ded =M"les;> +n !ost

c"ses these "d3ertise!ents 8ere inserted $/ ho!oseu"ls "nd their epress purpose 8"s to"ttr"ct "ns8ers *638 fro! persons 8ho 8ould indule in ho!oseu"l pr"ctices 8ith the

"d3ertisers; o!eti!es persons "ns8erin the "d3ertise!ents 8ere to co!!unic"tedirectl/ 8ith the "d3ertisers; o!eti!es the/ 8ere to send their "ns8ers to the !""5ine

"nd the "ns8ers 8ere then for8"rded to the "d3ertisers; <he "ccused st"ted th"t the/

est"$lished this ser3ice to "3oid the need for resortin to other !ethods of solicit"tion, "ndthere is no re"son to dou$t th"t; <his !""5ine h"d " f"irl/ l"re circul"tion of o3er '&,&&&

copies; +t 8"s distri$uted $/ 3"rious !e"ns; +t is not disputed th"t " re"t !"n/ copies

found their 8"/ into the h"nds of /oun students "nd school$o/s, $ut no point is !"de $/the prosecution th"t it 8"s likel/ th"t !"les under t8ent/-one 8ould repl/ to the

"d3ertise!ents;

<he "ccused 8ere ch"red "nd con3icted on t8o counts; <he contention of the "ccused in

this "ppe"l is th"t neither count discloses "n/ offence kno8n to the l"8; <he second countr"ises uite different le"l issues fro! those in3ol3ed in the first "nd + !ust de"l 8ith the!

sep"r"tel/;

<he first count ch"res " conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls; <he p"rticul"rs i3en "re th"t

$et8een J"nu"r/ "nd M"/ 199 the "ccused conspired toether "nd 8ith persons insertinthe "d3ertise!ents $/ !e"ns of the "d3ertise!ents =to induce re"ders thereof to !eet

those persons insertin such "d3ertise!ents for the purpose of seu"l pr"ctices t"kin pl"ce$et8een !"le persons "nd to encour"e re"ders thereof to indule in such pr"ctices, 8ith

intent there$/ to de$"uch "nd corrupt the !or"ls "s 8ell of /outh "s of di3ers other liee

su$Cects of :ur L"d/ the Iueen;>

+t 8"s decided $/ this ouse in h"8 3; D;0;0; ?191@ 4( .r;pp;R; 11') *192 ;.; 22&th"t conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls is " cri!e kno8n to the l"8 of 6nl"nd; o if the

"ppell"nts "re to succeed on this count, either this ouse !ust re3erse th"t decision orthere !ust $e sufficient rounds for distinuishin this c"se; <he "ppell"nts !"in "ru!ent

is th"t 8e should reconsider th"t decision) "ltern"ti3el/, the/ su$!it th"t it c"n "nd should$e distinuished;



+ dissented in h"8s c"se ? supra @; :n reconsider"tion + still *639 think th"t the decision8"s 8ron "nd + see no re"son to "lter "n/thin 8hich + s"id in !/ speech; But it does not

follo8 th"t + should no8 support " !otion to reconsider the decision; + h"3e s"id !ore th"nonce in recent c"ses th"t our ch"ne of pr"ctice in no loner re"rdin pre3ious decisions of

this ouse "s "$solutel/ $indin does not !e"n th"t 8hene3er 8e think th"t " pre3iousdecision 8"s 8ron 8e should re3erse it; +n the ener"l interest of cert"int/ in the l"8 8e

!ust $e sure th"t there is so!e 3er/ ood re"son $efore 8e so "ct; e 8ere infor!ed th"tthere h"d $een "t le"st thirt/ "nd pro$"$l/ !"n/ !ore con3ictions of this ne8 cri!e in theten /e"rs 8hich h"3e el"psed since h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s decided, "nd it does not

"ppe"r th"t there h"s $een !"nifest inCustice or th"t "n/ "tte!pt h"s $een !"de to 8iden

the scope of the ne8 cri!e; + do not re"rd our refus"l to reconsider h"8s c"se ? supra @"s in "n/ 8"/ Custif/in "n/ "tte!pt to 8iden the scope of the decision "nd + 8ould oppose

"n/ "tte!pt to do so; But + think th"t, ho8e3er 8ron or "no!"lous the decision !"/ $e, it!ust st"nd "nd "ppl/ to c"ses re"son"$l/ "n"loous unless or until it is "ltered $/

0"rli"!ent; + hold th"t opinion the !ore stronl/ in this c"se $/ re"son of the n"ture of thesu$Cect-!"tter 8e "re de"lin 8ith; + s"id in h"8s c"se "t pp; 1(7 "nd 27( of the

respecti3e reports "nd + repe"t th"t 0"rli"!ent "nd 0"rli"!ent "lone is the proper "uthorit/to ch"ne the l"8 8ith re"rd to the punish!ent of i!!or"l "cts; Rihtl/ or 8ronl/ the l"8

8"s deter!ined $/ the decision in h"8 ? supra @; n/ "lter"tion of the l"8 "s so

deter!ined !ust in !/ 3ie8 $e left to 0"rli"!ent;

+ "! not re"tl/ i!pressed $/ the "ru!ent th"t 0"rli"!ent !ust $e held to h"3e "ppro3edth"t decision $ec"use in recent /e"rs there h"3e $een se3er"l occ"sions 8hen 0"rli"!ent

could "ppropri"tel/ h"3e de"lt 8ith it if it h"d dis"ppro3ed of the decision; Much recentleisl"tion on this topic h"s "ll the indic"tions of $ein in the n"ture of " co!pro!ise "nd

8e should, + think, "ccept "nd interpret it "s such;

lthouh 8e do not nor!"ll/ look "t Hansard , + think th"t + !ust t"ke note of one !"tter$rouht to our "ttention $/ counsel, if onl/ $ec"use it sho8s the d"ner of

dr"8in *640 conclusions fro! 0"rli"!ent refr"inin fro! leisl"tin; ection 2 ?4@ of the

:$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 pro3idesA = person pu$lishin "n "rticle sh"ll not $e

proceeded ""inst for "n offence "t co!!on l"8 consistin of the pu$lic"tion of "n/ !"ttercont"ined or e!$odied in the "rticle 8here it is of the essence of the offence th"t the !"tteris o$scene;> nd section 1 ?1@ pro3idesA =Hor the purposes of this ct "n "rticle sh"ll $e

dee!ed to $e o$scene if its effect is such "s to tend to depr"3e "nd corrupt persons>likel/ to re"d it; <he o$3ious purpose of section 2 ?4@ is to !"ke "3"il"$le, 8here the

essence of the offence is tendin to depr"3e "nd corrupt, the defences 8hich "re set out inthe ct;

+n h"8s c"se ? supra @ it 8"s "rued th"t section 2 ?4@ ecluded prosecution for theoffence of corruptin pu$lic !or"ls; <he !"tter is de"lt 8ith $/ Lord <ucker "t pp; 17( "nd

29& of the respecti3e reports; <echnic"ll/ the distinction 8hich he dr"8s is correct, $ut it"ppe"rs to !e to offend ""inst the polic/ of the ct "nd if the dr"fts!"n of the 19(9 ct

h"d foreseen the decision in h"8s c"se ? supra @ he !iht 8ell h"3e dr"fted thesu$section differentl/; <his !"tter 8"s r"ised in the ouse of .o!!ons on June ', 194,

8hen the olicitor-Gener"l "3e "n "ssur"nce, repe"tin "n e"rlier "ssur"nce, =th"t "conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls 8ould not $e ch"red so "s to circu!3ent the st"tutor/

defence in su$section 4> ? "ns"rd , Kol; 9(, col; 1212 @;

<h"t does "t le"st sho8 th"t 0"rli"!ent h"s not $een entirel/ s"tisfied 8ith h"8s c"se

? supra @; +t is not for !e to co!!ent on the undesir"$ilit/ of seekin to "lter the l"8 $/undert"kins or other8ise th"n $/ leisl"tion; But + "! $ound to s"/ th"t + 8"s surprised to



le"rn th"t nothin effecti3e h"d $een done to $rin this undert"kin to the notice of thele"l profession; Ker/ eperienced senior counsel in this c"se h"d ne3er he"rd of it; +t 8"s

not s"id th"t the course of the present c"se 8ould h"3e $een different if counsel h"d kno8nof the undert"kin; But + c"nnot "3oid "n une"s/ suspicion th"t inor"nce of it !"/ h"3e

"ffected the conduct of so!e other prosecution for this cri!e; lthouh + 8ould not supportreconsiderin h"8s c"se ? supra @,*641 + think th"t 8e ouht to cl"rif/ one or t8o

!"tters; +n the first pl"ce conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls is so!ethin of " !isno!er; +tre"ll/ !e"ns to corrupt the !or"ls of such !e!$ers of the pu$lic "s !"/ $e influenced $/the !"tter pu$lished $/ the "ccused; Eet + think th"t the !e"nin of the 8ord =corrupt>

reuires so!e cl"rific"tion; :ne of !/ o$Cections to the h"8 decision ? supra @ is th"t it

le"3es too !uch to the Cur/; + reconise th"t in the end it !ust $e for the Cur/ to s"/8hether the !"tter pu$lished is likel/ to le"d to corruption; But Curies, unlike Cudes, "re

not epected to $e eperts in the use of the 6nlish l"nu"e "nd + think th"t the/ ouht to$e i3en so!e "ssist"nce; +n h"8s c"se ? supra @ " direction 8"s upheld in 8hich the tri"l

Cude s"idA =nd re"ll/ the !e"nin of de$"uched "nd corrupt is ""in, Cust "s the !e"ninof the 8ord induce is, essenti"ll/ " !"tter for /ou; fter "ll the "ru!ents, + 8onder re"ll/

8hether it !e"ns in this c"se "nd in this contet !uch !ore th"n le"d "str"/ !or"ll/> ?seepp; 17( "nd 29& of the respecti3e reports@; + c"nnot "ree th"t th"t is riht; =.orrupt> is "

stron 8ord "nd the Cur/ ouht to $e re!inded of th"t, "s the/ 8ere in the present c"se;

<he :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct "ppe"rs to use the 8ords =depr"3e> "nd =corrupt> "ss/non/!ous, "s + think the/ "re; e !"/ reret th"t 8e li3e in " per!issi3e societ/, $ut +dou$t 8hether e3en the !ost st"unch defender of " $etter "e 8ould !"int"in th"t "ll or

e3en !ost of those 8ho h"3e "t one ti!e or in one 8"/ or "nother $een led "str"/ !or"ll/h"3e there$/ $eco!e depr"3ed or corrupt; + think th"t the Cur/ should $e told in one 8"/ or

"nother th"t, "lthouh in the end the uestion 8hether !"tter is corruptin is for the!,the/ should keep in !ind the current st"nd"rds of ordin"r/ decent people;

+ c"n no8 turn to the "ppell"nts second "ru!ent; <he/ s"/ th"t ho!oseu"l "cts $et8een"dult !"les in pri3"te "re no8 l"8ful, so it is unre"son"$le "nd c"nnot $e the l"8 th"t other

persons "re uilt/ of "n offence if the/ !erel/ put in touch 8ith one "nother t8o !"les 8ho

8ish to indule in such "cts; But there is " !"teri"l difference $et8een !erel/ ee!ptin

cert"in conduct fro! cri!in"l pen"lties "nd !"kin it l"8ful in the full sense; 0rostitution"nd "!in "fford e"!ples of this difference;*642 o 8e !ust e"!ine the pro3isions of

the eu"l :ffences ct 197 to see Cust ho8 f"r it "ltered the old l"8; +t en"cts su$Cect toli!it"tion th"t " ho!oseu"l "ct in pri3"te sh"ll not $e "n offence, $ut it oes no f"rther

th"n th"t; ection 4 sho8s th"t procurin is still " serious offence "nd it 8ould see! th"tso!e of the f"cts in this c"se !iht h"3e supported " ch"re under th"t section; + find

nothin in the ct to indic"te th"t 0"rli"!ent thouht or intended to l"/ do8n th"tindulence in these pr"ctices is not corruptin; + re"d the ct "s s"/in th"t, e3en thouh it

!"/ $e corruptin, if people choose to corrupt the!sel3es in this 8"/, th"t is their "ff"ir"nd the l"8 8ill not interfere; But no licence is i3en to others to encour"e the pr"ctice;

o, if one "ccepts h"8s c"se ? supra @ "s rihtl/ decided, it !ust $e left to e"ch Cur/ todecide in the circu!st"nces of e"ch c"se 8hether people 8ere likel/ to $e corrupted; +n this

c"se the Cur/ 8ere properl/ directed "nd it is i!possi$le to s"/ th"t the/ re"ched " 8ron

conclusion; +t is not for us to s"/ 8hether or not 8e "ree 8ith it; o + 8ould dis!iss the"ppe"l "s re"rds the first count;

<he second count is conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/, the p"rticul"rs, $"sed on the

s"!e f"cts, $ein th"t the "ccused conspired 8ith persons insertin le8d disustin "ndoffensi3e "d3ertise!ents in the !""5ine =$/ !e"ns of the pu$lic"tion of the s"id !""5ine

cont"inin the s"id "d3ertise!ent to outr"e pu$lic decenc/;>



<he cruci"l uestion here is 8hether in this ener"lised for! this is "n offence kno8n to thel"8; <here "re " nu!$er of p"rticul"r offences 8ell kno8n to the l"8 8hich in3ol3e

indecenc/ in 3"rious 8"/s, $ut none of the! co3ers the f"cts of this c"se; e 8ere infor!edth"t " ch"re of this ch"r"cter h"s ne3er $een $rouht 8ith re"rd to printed !"tter on s"le

to the pu$lic; <he reconised offences 8ith re"rd to such !"tter "re $"sed on its $eino$scene, i.e. likel/ to corrupt or depr"3e; <he $"sis of the ne8 offence, if it is one, is uite

different; +t is th"t ordin"r/ decent-!inded people 8ho "re not likel/ to $eco!e corruptedor depr"3ed 8ill $e outr"ed or utterl/ disusted $/ 8h"t the/ re"d; <o !/ !ind uestionsof pu$lic polic/ of the *643 ut!ost i!port"nce "re "t st"ke here; + think th"t the o$Cections

to the cre"tion of this ener"lised offence "re si!il"r in ch"r"cter to, $ut e3en re"ter th"n,

the o$Cections to the ener"lised offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls;

+n upholdin the decision in h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8e "re, in !/ 3ie8, in no 8"/ "ffir!in

or lendin "n/ support to the doctrine th"t the .ourts still h"3e so!e ener"l or residu"lpo8er either to cre"te ne8 offences or so to 8iden eistin offences "s to !"ke punish"$le

conduct of " t/pe hitherto not su$Cect to punish!ent; p"rt fro! so!e st"tutor/ offences of li!ited "pplic"tion, there "ppe"rs to $e neither precedent nor "uthorit/ of "n/ kind for

punishin the pu$lic"tion of 8ritten or printed !"tter on the round th"t it is indecent "sdistinct fro! $ein o$scene; <o s"/ th"t pu$lished !"tter offends ""inst pu$lic decenc/

"dds nothin to s"/in th"t it is indecent; <o s"/, "s is s"id in this ch"re, th"t it outr"espu$lic decenc/ "dds no ne8 f"ctorA it see!s to !e to !e"n no !ore th"n th"t the deree of

indecenc/ is such th"t decent !e!$ers of the pu$lic 8ho re"d the !"teri"l 8ill not !erel/feel shocked or disusted $ut 8ill feel outr"ed; +f this ch"re is "n "tte!pt to introduce

so!ethin ne8 into the cri!in"l l"8, it c"nnot $e s"3ed $ec"use it is li!ited to 8h"t " Cur/!iht think to $e " hih deree of indecenc/;

<here "re "t present three 8ell-kno8n offences of ener"l "pplic"tion 8hich in3ol3e

indecenc/A indecent eposure of the person, keepin " disorderl/ ouse, "nd eposure orehi$ition in pu$lic of indecent thins or "cts; <he first t8o "re f"r re!o3ed fro! s"le of

indecent liter"ture "nd + c"n see no re"l "n"lo/ 8ith the third; +ndecent ehi$itions in

pu$lic h"3e $een 8idel/ interpreted; +ndecenc/ is not confined to seu"l indecenc/A indeed

it is difficult to find "n/ li!it short of s"/in th"t it includes "n/thin 8hich "n ordin"r/decent !"n or 8o!"n 8ould find to $e shockin, disustin "nd re3oltin; nd =in pu$lic>"lso h"s " 8ide !e"nin; +t "ppe"rs to co3er ehi$itions in "ll pl"ces to 8hich the pu$lic

h"3e "ccess either "s of riht or gratis or on p"/!ent; <here is "uthorit/ to the effect th"tt8o or !ore !e!$ers of the pu$lic !ust $e "$le to see the ehi$ition "t the s"!e ti!e, $ut

+ dou$t 8hether th"t "pplies in "ll c"ses; *644 e 8ere not referred to "n/ c"se 8here theehi$ition consisted of 8ritten or printed !"tter, $ut it !"/ 8ell $e th"t pu$lic ehi$ition of

"n indecent notice or "d3ertise!ent 8ould $e punish"$le; But to s"/ th"t "n inside p"e of" $ook or !""5ine eposed for s"le is ehi$ited in pu$lic see!s to !e to $e oin f"r

$e/ond $oth the ener"l purpose "nd intend!ent of this offence "nd "n/ decision or e3endictu! in "n/ c"se; + need not o f"rther $ec"use this offence is not ch"red "nd it 8"s not

"rued th"t it could h"3e $een ch"red in this c"se;

+ !ust no8 consider 8h"t the effect 8ould $e if this ne8 ener"lised cri!e 8ere held to

eist; +f there 8ere in "n/ $ook, ne8 or old, " fe8 p"es or e3en " fe8 sentences 8hich "n/ Cur/ could find to $e outr"eousl/ indecent, those 8ho took p"rt in its pu$lic"tion "nd s"le

8ould risk con3iction; + c"n see no 8"/ of den/in to Curies the free h"nd 8hich h"8s c"se? supra @ i3es the! in c"ses of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls; <here 8ould $e no

defence $"sed on liter"r/, "rtistic or scientific !erit; <he undert"kin i3en in 0"rli"!ent

8ith re"rd to o$scene pu$lic"tions 8ould not "ppl/ to this uite different cri!e; Eotoriousl/!"n/ old 8orks, co!!onl/ re"rded "s cl"ssics of the hihest !erit, cont"in p"ss"es



8hich !"n/ " Cur/!"n !iht re"rd "s outr"eousl/ indecent; +t h"s $een ener"ll/supposed th"t the d"/s for Bo8dlerisin the cl"ssics 8ere lon p"st, $ut the introduction of

this ne8 cri!e !iht !"ke pu$lishers of such 8orks think t8ice; +t !"/ $e s"id th"t noprosecution 8ould e3er $e $rouht ecept in " 3er/ $"d c"se; But + h"3e epressed on

pre3ious occ"sions !/ opinion th"t " $"d l"8 is not defensi$le on the round th"t it 8ill $e Cudiciousl/ "d!inistered; <o reconise this ne8 cri!e 8ould o contr"r/ to the 8hole trend

of pu$lic polic/ follo8ed $/ 0"rli"!ent in recent ti!es; + h"3e no hesit"tion in s"/in th"t in!/ opinion the con3iction of the "ccused on the second count !ust $e u"shed;

<he sentences i!posed on count 1 st"ndA those i!posed on count 2 o; But it is necess"r/for this ouse to de"l 8ith the su!s ordered to $e p"id to8"rds the costs of the prosecution

$ec"use there no distinction 8"s !"de for the different counts; 6"ch indi3idu"l con3icted8"s ordered to p"/ F2&& "nd the co!p"n/ *645 8"s ordered to p"/ F(&&; + think th"t the

proper course 8ould $e to h"l3e these su!s so th"t e"ch indi3idu"l !ust no8 p"/ F1&& "ndthe co!p"n/ !ust p"/ F2(& to8"rds the costs of the prosecution;

Lord Morris of Borth-/-GestA

M/ Lords, in the c"se of h"8 3; Director of 0u$lic 0rosecutions ?191@ 4( .r;pp;R; 11'A*192 ;.; 22& it 8"s cle"rl/ reconised "nd "ffir!ed th"t " conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic!or"ls is " co!!on l"8 !isde!e"nour 8hich is indict"$le "t co!!on l"8; <h"t 8"s so held

$/ the Cude "t the tri"l "fter full le"l "ru!ent; is rulin 8"s upheld in Dece!$er 19&

$/ the .ourt of .ri!in"l ppe"l ?Lord 0"rker .;J;, tre"tfield "nd sh8orth JJ;@ "fter furtherfull le"l "ru!ent; pon "ppe"l to /our Lordships ouse, "fter further full le"l "ru!ent

l"stin so!e se3en d"/s, "nd "fter "n e"!in"tion of " l"re nu!$er of "uthorities, it 8"s,in M"/ 191, ""in held th"t the rulin h"d $een correct; +t c"nnot 3"lidl/ $e "sserted th"t

8h"t the ouse did 8"s to cre"te " ne8 offence; h"t 8"s held 8"s th"t "uthorit/ sho8ed

th"t the offence eisted "nd 8"s kno8n to the co!!on l"8; Kiscount i!onds ?"t pp; 147"nd 2 of the respecti3e reports@ s"idA =M/ Lords, "s + h"3e "lre"d/ s"id, the first count in

the indict!ent is .onspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls,N "nd the p"rticul"rs of offence 8illh"3e sufficientl/ "ppe"red; + "! concerned onl/ to "ssert 8h"t 8"s 3iorousl/ denied $/

counsel for the "ppell"nt, th"t such "n offence is kno8n to the co!!on l"8, "nd th"t it 8"sopen to the Cur/ to find on the f"cts of this c"se th"t the "ppell"nt 8"s uilt/ of such "n

offence;> Lord <ucker, 8ith 8hose speech Lord i!onds, Lord odson "nd + "reed, $"sedhi!self on 8h"t he re"rded "s cle"r "nd co!pellin "uthorit/ in upholdin the eistence of

the cri!e of conspir"c/ to corrupt !or"ls;

+n re"rd to the first count upon 8hich the "ppell"nts in the present c"se 8ere con3icted

there 8ere t8o !"in stre"!s of "ru!ent; +n the first pl"ce, it 8"s contended th"t thepresent c"se is to $e distinuished fro! h"8s c"se ? supra @ "nd, further!ore, th"t there

8ere errors or in"deu"cies in the su!!in-up; *646 +n the second pl"ce, it 8"scontended th"t h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s not correctl/ decided "nd should no8 $e

re3ie8ed; + 8ill de"l 8ith these contentions in turn; <he point of l"8 8hich the .ourt of

ppe"l certified "s $ein of ener"l pu$lic i!port"nce 8"s =8hether "n "ree!ent $/ t8o or!ore persons to insert "d3ertise!ents in " !""5ine, 8here$/ "dult !"le "d3ertisers seekreplies fro! other "dult !"les 8ho "re prep"red to consent to co!!it ho!oseu"l "cts 8ith

the! in pri3"te, is c"p"$le of "!ountin to the offence of conspirin to corrupt pu$lic

!or"ls;>

+t 8"s contended on $eh"lf of the "ppell"nts th"t, in 3ie8 of the pro3isions of section 1 ?1@of the eu"l :ffences ct 197 , no offence h"d in the present c"se $een co!!itted; B/

th"t su$section it is pro3ided "s follo8sA =Eot8ithst"ndin "n/ st"tutor/ or co!!on l"8



pro3ision, $ut su$Cect to the pro3isions of the net follo8in section, " ho!oseu"l "ct inpri3"te sh"ll not $e "n offence pro3ided th"t the p"rties consent thereto "nd h"3e "tt"ined

the "e of t8ent/-one /e"rs;> +t 8"s su$!itted th"t 8here 0"rli"!ent h"s "ltered the l"8 soth"t cert"in seu"l conduct 8hich 8"s for!erl/ ille"l $eco!es under cert"in circu!st"nces

no loner "n offence, there c"n $e no co!!ission of the offence of conspirin to corruptpu$lic !or"ls $/ the insertion of "d3ertise!ents 8hich onl/ h"3e in 3ie8 such seu"l

conduct under the specified circu!st"nces; "t the tri"l it 8"s s"id th"t the circul"tion of thep"per, International <i!es , in 8hich the "d3ertise!ents 8ere inserted 8"s "$out '%,&&&,thouh so!e (4,&&& copies of the l"st edition 8ere printed; :ne of the "ppell"nts thouht

th"t the re"ders could include up to 1&,&&& school$o/s "nd 2&,&&& to '&,&&& students; +n

considerin the su$!ission 8hich is !"de + propose to le"3e out of "ccount "n/ uestion8hether so!e of the "d3ertise!ents !iht $e re"rded "s h"3in $een "ddressed to or

!iht h"3e $een responded to $/ persons under the "e of t8ent/-one /e"rs; <hesu$!ission 8hich is !"de is, + think, f"ll"cious; h"t section 1 of the ct does is to pro3ide

th"t cert"in "cts 8hich pre3iousl/ 8ere cri!in"l offences should no loner $e cri!in"loffences; But th"t does not !e"n th"t it is not open to " Cur/ to s"/ th"t to "ssist or to

encour"e persons to t"ke p"rt in such "cts !"/ $e to *647 corrupt the!; +f $/ "ree!entit 8"s "rr"ned to insert "d3ertise!ents $/ !"rried people procl"i!in the!sel3es to $e

such "nd to $e desirous of !eetin so!eone of the opposite se 8ith " 3ie8 to cl"ndestine

seu"l "ssoci"tion, 8ould it $e " Custific"tion to s"/ th"t "dulter/ is not of itself " cri!in"loffenceO person 8ho, "s " result of perusin the L"dies Director/, decided to resort to "prostitute 8"s co!!ittin no le"l offenceA $ut it 8"s open to " Cur/ to hold th"t those 8ho

conspired to insert the "d3ertise!ents did so 8ith the intention of corruptin the !or"ls ofthose 8ho re"d the "d3ertise!ents; o in the present c"se it 8"s open to the Cur/ to hold

th"t there 8"s "n intention to corruptA it 8"s for the Cur/ to decide 8hether the"d3ertise!ents 8ould induce re"ders of the! to !eet those 8ho inserted the

"d3ertise!ents "nd to !eet the! for the purpose of the conte!pl"ted seu"l pr"cticesA it8"s for the Cur/ to decide 8hether re"ders 8ould $e or !iht $e encour"ed to indule in

such pr"cticesA it 8"s for the Cur/ to decide 8hether those conspirin toether to insert the"d3ertise!ents h"d the intent to de$"uch "nd corrupt the !or"ls of the re"ders; <he 8ord

=corrupt> is " stron 8ordA it should not $e 8e"kened $/ too entle " phr"se or epl"n"tion;

<he situ"tion i3in rise to the uestion no8 $ein considered 8"s foreseen $/ "nd referred

to $/ Lord i!onds "nd $/ Lord <ucker in their speeches in h"8s c"se ? supra @; <husLord <ucker ?"t pp; 19 "nd 2%( of the respecti3e reports@ s"idA =uppose 0"rli"!ent

to!orro8 en"cts th"t ho!oseu"l pr"ctices $et8een "dult consentin !"les is no loner to$e cri!in"l, is it to $e s"id th"t " cons pir"c/ to further "nd encour"e such pr"ctices

"!onst "dult !"les could not $e the su$Cect of " cri!in"l ch"re fit to $e left to " Cur/O> +tis suested th"t 8h"t 8"s s"id 8"s obiter ; +n " li!ited sense it 8"s$ut in re"lit/ it 8"s

!erel/ illustr"ti3e of "n issue of f"ct 8hich !iht "rise for the consider"tion of " Cur/; <here"sonin of the speeches in h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8ould h"3e $een Cust "s full/ "pplic"$le

to the situ"tion in the present c"se h"d Lord i!onds "nd Lord <ucker not !"de the specificreferences 8hich + h"3e !entioned; +t is to $e o$ser3ed th"t Lord <ucker 8"s

onl/ *648 spe"kin of "n issue 8hich could $e left to the consider"tion of " Cur/; .on3iction

could onl/ follo8 if the Cur/ 8ere s"tisfied th"t the ele!ents of the offence 8ere "llest"$lished;

cle"r reconition "nd "ccept"nce of the f"ct th"t there eisted "s "n offence kno8n to the

l"8, the offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls, did not in3ol3e th"t e3er/ 3"riet/"nd co!$in"tion of circu!st"nces $/ 8hich the offence could $e co!!itted !ust in so!e

p"st period h"3e $een de3ised or h"3e $een kno8n or "dopted or recorded; 0recedent !"/$e pointed to "s sho8in th"t the l"8 h"s kno8n "nd reconised the offence; But it is idle to

s"/ th"t the offence is $/-p"ssed !erel/ $ec"use so!eone thinks of " ne8 8"/ of



co!!ittin it; + 8ould respectfull/ reiter"te 8h"t 8"s s"id $/ Kiscount i!onds ?"t pp; 14%"nd 27 of the respecti3e reports@ in h"8s c"se ? supra @; =But + "! "t " loss to

underst"nd ho8 it c"n $e s"id either th"t the l"8 does not reconise " conspir"c/ to corruptpu$lic !or"ls or th"t, thouh there !"/ not $e "n e"ct precedent for such " conspir"c/ "s

this c"se re3e"ls, it does not f"ll f"irl/ 8ithin the ener"l 8ords $/ 8hich it is descri$ed;<he f"ll"c/ in the "ru!ent th"t 8"s "ddressed to us l"/ in the "tte!pt to eclude fro! the

scope of ener"l 8ords "cts 8ell c"lcul"ted to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls Cust $ec"use the/ h"dnot $een co!!itted or h"d not $een $rouht to the notice of the .ourt $efore;>

+t 8"s contended th"t the 8ords =or co!!on l"8 pro3ision> in section 1 ?1@ of the 197 ct8ere 8ords 8hich precluded the $rinin of " ch"re "t co!!on l"8 of conspir"c/ to

corrupt !or"ls if 8h"t 8"s in conte!pl"tion 8"s " ho!oseu"l "ct in pri3"te $et8eenconsentin "dults; <he contention is, in !/ 3ie8, unsust"in"$le; +n their contet the 8ords

"re !erel/ p"rt of the pro3ision $/ 8hich the l"8 8"s ch"ned so th"t such " ho!oseu"l"ct 8ould no loner $e " cri!in"l offence e3en thouh pre3iousl/ it h"d $een "n offence

either $/ st"tute or "t co!!on l"8;

+n criticis! of the su!!in-up of the le"rned Cude it 8"s su$!itted th"t the Cur/ should

h"3e $een told th"t, if the/ considered th"t the "d3ertise!ents 8ere onl/ "ddressed tothose 8ho "lre"d/ induled in ho!oseu"l conduct, then the/ ?the Cur/@ *649should "cuit;

<he criticis! is ill-founded; +n the first pl"ce, " c"su"l perus"l of the "d3ertise!ents re3e"lsth"t it could not r"tion"ll/ $e held th"t the/ 8ere onl/ so "ddressed or directedA in the

second pl"ce, it is " f"ll"c/ to "ssu!e ?"s 8"s pointed out $/ sh8orth J; in deli3erin the Cud!ent of the .ourt of .ri!in"l ppe"l in h"8s c"se ? supra @ "t pp; 119 "nd 22% of the

respecti3e reports@ th"t so!eone c"nnot $e corrupted !ore th"n once;

+n further criticis! of the su!!in-up it 8"s contended th"t the Cur/ 8ere not "deu"tel/

directed "s to the necessit/ of their $ein s"tisfied th"t the "ccused h"d the intention 8hichthe indict!ent "lleed; <his criticis! is "lso, in !/ 3ie8, ill-founded; <"ken "s " 8hole, the

su!!in-up, 8hich 8"s full, left the issues f"irl/ to the Cur/; <he le"rned Cude left it to the Cur/ to decide 8hether the "d3ertise!ents 8ould induce !"les "nd encour"e !"les to

indule in ho!oseu"l "cts; e "sked the!A =."n /ou $e in "n/ dou$t th"t the "ccusedpersons kne8 th"t these "d3ertise!ents 8ould h"3e Cust th"t effect "nd intended th"t the/

shouldO ."n /ou $e in "n/ dou$t, s"/s the .ro8n, th"t this 8"s indeed to corrupt pu$lic!or"ls, $e"rin in !ind ch"nin 3"lues, $e"rin in !ind e3er/thin in 197&, this 8"s to

corrupt pu$lic !or"lsO ."n /ou $e in "n/ dou$t, s"/s the .ro8n, th"t these three "ccusedkno8in "ll this "reed to do itO +f so, the/ "re Guilt/;>

<here 8"s "!ple reconition of the f"ct th"t it 8"s for the Cur/ to decide 8hether the/thouht th"t the "d3ertise!ents induced "nd encour"ed re"ders to indule in the seu"l

pr"ctices referred to "nd 8hether there 8"s "n intention to de$"uch "nd corrupt the !or"lsof such re"ders; <here "re 3"rious occ"sions upon 8hich " Cur/ !"/ h"3e to consider

8hether persons !"/ $e or !"/ h"3e $een corrupted; <hus, if there is " prosecution under

the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 for pu$lishin "n o$scene "rticle " Cur/ !"/ h"3e todecide 8hether its effect is such "s to tend to depr"3e "nd corrupt those 8ho "re likel/ tore"d or to see or to he"r the "rticle; +t !"/ $e " difficult t"sk for " Cur/ to h"3e to decide

such uestions "s to 8hether "n "rticle or " pl"/ tends to depr"3e "nd corrupt; But

0"rli"!ent h"s f"irl/ "nd su"rel/ *650 "ssined such " t"sk to " Cur/; Dou$tless it h"sdone so 8ith the kno8lede th"t there is e3er/ likelihood th"t the collecti3e 3ie8 of " $od/

of !en "nd 8o!en on " Cur/ 8ill reflect the current 3ie8 of societ/; Lord i!onds pointed

out in h"8s c"se ? supra @ th"t the s"!e "ct 8ill not in all "es $e re"rded in the s"!e8"/; <hus, st"te!ents concernin reliion 8hich in p"st centuries !iht h"3e $een



re"rded "s heres/ or "s $l"sphe!/ 8ould tod"/ no loner $e so re"rded if the decenciesof contro3ers/ "re o$ser3ed; Lord <ucker s"id th"t on such !"tters "s the corruption of

!or"ls or o$scenit/ the Cur/ !ust $e the fin"l "r$iters; +n our speeches in h"8s c"se? supra @ $oth !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend Lord odson "nd + "d3erted to the f"ct th"t,

8hile fro! ener"tion to ener"tion there !"/ $e 3"ri"tions, current pu$lic st"nd"rds of!or"ls "nd decenc/ "re in the keepin of Curies; Hor !/ p"rt, + do not 8ish to !odif/ or in

"n/ 8"/ to retr"ct 8h"t + s"id;

+ "ree, therefore, 8ith Henton "tkinson L;J; 8hen he s"id in the .ourt of ppe"l th"t =it 8"s

for the Cur/ to s"/ 8hether $/ present d"/ st"nd"rds, 8hich the/ 8ere there to represent,these "d3ertise!ents 8ere in their 3ie8 corruptin of pu$lic !or"ls e3en thouh 0"rli"!ent

h"d pro3ided th"t "cts of this kind $et8een consentin !"le "dults should no loner $e "cri!e;>

+ p"ss, then, to consider the second !"in su$!ission on $eh"lf of the "ppell"nts; +t 8"sured th"t h"8s c"se ? supra @ should no8 $e reconsidered; + reCect this su$!ission

pri!"ril/ $ec"use, in !/ 3ie8, h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s correctl/ decided; 63en h"d + $eenof " different opinion, + 8ould ne3ertheless consider it 8holl/ in"ppropri"te no8 to re3ie8

the decision; uch " course 8ould not, in !/ 3ie8, $e 8"rr"nted or desir"$le 8ithin the"!$it of the st"te!ent !"de in this ouse on Jul/ 2, 19; <h"t st"te!ent dre8 "ttention

to the especi"l need for cert"int/ "s to the cri!in"l l"8; +t 8"s cle"rl/ held in h"8s c"se? supra @ th"t there h"d $een "nd th"t there continued to $e "s p"rt of the cri!in"l l"8 of

6nl"nd the offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls; <he decision est"$lished th"tf"ct 8ith cert"int/; +f "n/ person h"d pre3iousl/ h"d dou$ts "s to this, his dou$ts*651 8ere

re!o3ed; <here "re so!e 8ho reret th"t there should $e such "n offence "nd 8ho 8ould8ish to ch"ne the l"8A their course is to persu"de 0"rli"!ent to ch"ne it; :nce this ouse

in its Cudici"l c"p"cit/ 8"s s"tisfied th"t the offence 8"s kno8n to "nd eisted "s p"rt of the

l"8 it 8ould neither h"3e $een proper nor 8ould it h"3e $een 8ithin its Cudici"l pro3ince toprocl"i! or to suest th"t the l"8 should $e forotten or inored or th"t its force should $e

denied; <he decision in h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s !"de ne"rl/ ele3en /e"rs "o; e 8ere

told th"t in one period of four /e"rs since th"t ti!e there h"d $een o3er thirt/ prosecutions

for conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"lsA 8e do not kno8 ho8 !"n/ in tot"l there h"3e $een;<hose prosecutions 8ere for "n offence 8hich this ouse h"d "uthorit"ti3el/ l"id do8n to $e" p"rt of our cri!in"l l"8; +t is "ccepted th"t "ll rele3"nt "uthorities 8ere e"!ined $efore

this ouse c"!e to its decision; <here co!es " st"e 8hen further disput"tion should ce"se;

+t 8"s suested "nd it h"s $een suested th"t there is "n ele!ent of uncert"int/ 8hich

"tt"ches to the offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls; +t is s"id th"t the rules of l"8ouht to $e precise so th"t " person 8ill kno8 the e"ct conseuences of "ll his "ctions "nd

so th"t he c"n reul"te his conduct 8ith co!plete "ssur"nce; <his, ho8e3er, is not possi$leunder "n/ s/ste! of l"8; +f so!eone chooses to pu$lish 8ords in re"rd to "nother, it !"/

$e possi$le to i3e "d3ice "s to 8hether the 8ords "re c"p"$le of $e"rin " def"!"tor/!e"nin, $ut there 8ill $e 3er/ !"n/ c"ses in 8hich no cert"in "d3ice could $e i3en "s to

8hether it 8ill $e held th"t the 8ords 8ere def"!"tor/ "nd "s to 8hether he !iht $e heldli"$le to p"/ d"!"es in " ci3il "ction; +t !"/ depend upon the collecti3e 3ie8 of t8el3e

people on " Cur/; +f there is no Cur/, it 8ill depend upon the 3ie8 8hich !"/ $e for!ed $/one p"rticul"r Cude, 8hich !iht 8ell differ fro! th"t 8hich 8ould $e for!ed $/ " different

Cude; +n !"n/ c"ses there c"n $e no cert"int/ "s to 8h"t the decision 8ill $e; But none ofthis is " reflection upon the l"8; Eor do + kno8 of "n/ procedure under 8hich so!eone

could $e told 8ith precision Cust ho8 f"r he !"/ o $efore he *652 !"/ incur so!e ci3il or

so!e cri!in"l li"$ilit/; <hose 8ho sk"te on thin ice c"n h"rdl/ epect to find " sin 8hich8ill denote the precise spot 8here the/ !"/ f"ll in; o, 8hen 0"rli"!ent h"s !"de it "n



offence to pu$lish "n "rticle 8hich !"/ tend to depr"3e "nd corrupt "nd h"s left it to " Cur/to decide 8hether "n "rticle !"/ so tend, it is no criticis! of the l"8 to s"/ th"t " !"n 8ill

not $e sure in "d3"nce 8hether he 8ill $e "cuitted or con3icted; h"8s c"se ? supra @ is,therefore, not open to the criticis! th"t it cre"ted or toler"ted " st"te of uncert"int/; +t

!erel/ "ffir!ed 8ith cert"int/ th"t "n offence 8"s kno8n to the l"8; <he 3ie8 is "d3"nced$/ so!e th"t the l"8 should not $e used "s "n instru!ent to enforce !or"l st"nd"rds;

<hose 8ho hold th"t 3ie8 hold it sincerel/; But 8hether th"t 3ie8 should or should notpre3"il is not " !"tter for the .ourts to resol3e; +f there $e so!e 8ho think th"t in rel"tionto the pu$lic"tion of "rticles or the perfor!"nces of pl"/s there should $e no restr"ints "t "ll

or "t le"st no restr"ints 8hich in3ol3e or reuire the !"chiner/ of the l"8 for their s"nction,

it is for the! to persu"de 0"rli"!ent to "dopt their 3ie8; s recentl/ "s 19% ?$/ the<he"tres ct@ it 8"s pro3ided th"t " pl"/ should $e dee!ed to $e o$scene if, t"ken "s "

8hole, its effect is such "s to tend to depr"3e "nd corrupt persons 8ho "re likel/, h"3inre"rd to "ll rele3"nt circu!st"nces, to "ttend it; +f " c"se is de"lt 8ith su!!"ril/, it 8ill $e

for !"istr"tes to decide the issue "s to or tendin to depr"3e "nd corruptA if there is " tri"lon indict!ent, it 8ill $e for the Cur/ so to decide; s + h"3e !entioned, so!e criticis! of

h"8s c"se ? supra @ is !"de on the $"sis th"t " !"n c"nnot kno8 8ith cert"int/ 8hether8h"t he is doin 8ill l"nd hi! in trou$le ?$ec"use it could not $e predicted 8h"t 3ie8s "

Cur/ 8ould for!@A the criticis! is, in !/ 3ie8, in3"lid, $ec"use it 8"s not the decision in

h"8s c"se ? supra @ th"t produced the uncert"int/; <he in3"lidit/ of the criticis! ishihlihted 8hen it is seen th"t 0"rli"!ent not onl/ en"cted the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct19(9 in ter!s to 8hich + h"3e referred $ut !ore recentl/, i.e. $/ the <he"tres ct 19%, h"s

en"cted th"t it 8ill $e or !"/ $e for " Cur/ to deter!ine 8hether " perfor!"nce is o$scene$ec"use it tends to depr"3e *653 "nd corrupt; +ncident"ll/, it is to $e o$ser3ed th"t in

cre"tin ?"nd reuirin@ concentr"tion on the st"tutor/ offence of presentin or directin "no$scene perfor!"nce 0"rli"!ent ecluded proceedins for cert"in co!!on l"8 offencesA

="nd no person sh"ll $e proceeded ""inst for "n offence "t co!!on l"8 of conspirin tocorrupt pu$lic !or"ls, or to do "n/ "ct contr"r/ to pu$lic !or"ls or decenc/, in respect of "n

"ree!ent to present or i3e " perfor!"nce of " pl"/, or to c"use "n/thin to $e s"id ordone in the course of such " perfor!"nce> ?see s; 2 of the <he"tres ct 19%@; +t 8ould $e

h"rd to find " cle"rer indic"tion th"t 0"rli"!ent h"d full/ in !ind the decision in h"8s c"se

? supra @ "ckno8ledin the eistence of the co!!on l"8 offence of conspirin to corruptpu$lic !or"ls; o "lso 8"s there "ckno8led!ent of the eistence of the co!!on l"8

offence of conspirin to do "n "ct contr"r/ to pu$lic !or"ls or decenc/;

+t h"s so!eti!es $een "sserted th"t in his speech in h"8s c"se ? supra @ Lord i!onds8"s procl"i!in th"t the .ourts h"d po8er to etend the sphere of the l"8 $/ de3isin ne8

etension of the oper"tions of the cri!in"l l"8A his use of the 8ords =residu"l po8er> ispointed to "s " $"sis of 8h"t is "sserted; +n !/ 3ie8, the sust"ined re"sonin of his speech

refutes the "ssertion; +n the first pl"ce, he epressl/ "nd fir!l/ repudi"ted "n/ notion th"tthere is in the Cudes " riht to cre"te ne8 cri!in"l offences; e held, in "ree!ent 8ith

Lord <ucker, th"t the offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls 8"s "n offence kno8n tothe co!!on l"8; e then proceeded to de!onstr"te th"t, if offendin "cts do re3e"l "

conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls, it is not to $e s"id th"t no offence h"s $een co!!itted

!erel/ $ec"use the p"rticul"r "cts "re no3el or unprep"red for or "re unprecedented; epointed out th"t 0"rli"!ent fro! ti!e to ti!e $/ leisl"ti3e "cts "lters the co!!on l"8, $utth"t /et there "re =unr"3ished re!n"nts> of it; <he residu"l po8er to 8hich he referred is

the po8er =8here no st"tute h"s /et inter3ened to supersede the co!!on l"8 tosuperintend those offences 8hich "re preCudici"l to the pu$lic 8elf"re;> <he re"sonin is

directed to the enforce!ent of the co!!on l"8 to the etent th"t its *654 po8er !"/re"chA the re"sonin discl"i!s the eistence of "n "r$itr"r/ po8er to ref"shion the co!!on

l"8;



+ !ust refer to " su$!ission 8hich 8"s $"sed upon the st"tutor/ pro3isions cont"ined insection 2 ?4@ of the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 , 8hich re"dsA = person pu$lishin "n

"rticle sh"ll not $e proceeded ""inst for "n offence "t co!!on l"8 consistin of thepu$lic"tion of "n/ !"tter cont"ined or e!$odied in the "rticle 8here it is of the essence of

the offence th"t the !"tter is o$scene;> +t 8"s ured th"t this pro3ision precludes the$rinin of " ch"re of conspirin to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls if 8h"t is "lleed is th"t the

conspir"c/ 8"s one to $rin "$out " pu$lic"tion 8hich 8ould tend to depr"3e or corruptre"ders; <his su$!ission !ust $e ne"ti3ed $ec"use of 8h"t 8"s decided ?"nd + thinkrihtl/ decided@ in h"8s c"se ? supra @; +n re"rd to the "ru!ent "d3"nced in h"8s

c"se ? supra @ to the effect th"t count 1 in th"t c"se ?8hich co!p"res 8ith count 1 in the

present c"se@ offended ""inst the pro3isions of section 2 ?4@ of the 19(9 ct, Lord <uckers"id ?"t pp; 17( "nd 29& of the respecti3e reports@A =M/ Lords, + "ree 8ith the Cud!ent of

the .ourt of .ri!in"l ppe"l th"t the short "ns8er to this "ru!ent is th"t the offence "tco!!on l"8 "lleed, n"!el/, conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls, did not consist of the

pu$lic"tionN of the !""5ines, it consisted of "n "ree!ent to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls $/!e"ns of the !""5ines 8hich !iht ne3er h"3e $een pu$lished;>

+t is rele3"nt to h"3e in !ind th"t it is pro3ided $/ section 4 of the 19(9 ct th"t " person isnot pu$lishin "n o$scene "rticle if it is pro3ed th"t pu$lic"tion of the "rticle is Custified "s

$ein for the pu$lic ood =on the round th"t it is in the interests of science, liter"ture, "rtor le"rnin, or of other o$Cects of ener"l concern;> +t 8"s not suested th"t the

"d3ertise!ents in the present c"se ?nor 8"s it suested th"t the Director/ in h"8s c"se? supra @ could $e re"rded "s pu$lic"tions 8hich 8ere Custifi"$le "s $ein for the pu$lic

ood; +t !"/ $e th"t if " pu$lic"tion could $e so Custified, " conspir"c/ desined to effect, or8hich conte!pl"ted, such " pu$lic"tion 8ould not $e " cri!in"l conspir"c/; But, 8hether

this $e so or not, it 8ould $e uite*655 in"ppropri"te if there could $e " ch"re ofconspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls 8hich pl"ced "n/one "t risk of con3iction in

circu!st"nces 8hich circu!3ented the st"tutor/ defence under section 4; +n 1940"rli"!ent p"ssed the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct of th"t /e"r "nd 8e 8ere told th"t $efore it

8"s p"ssed the L"8 :fficers of the .ro8n "3e "n "ssur"nce to the ouse of .o!!ons ?in

repetition of "n e"rlier si!il"r "ssur"nce@ th"t " conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls 8ould

not $e ch"red so "s to circu!3ent the st"tutor/ defence in section 4; <h"t should $ekno8n $/ "ll 8ho "re concerned 8ith the oper"tion of the cri!in"l l"8; Hor present purposes

the rele3"nce of this lies in the circu!st"nce th"t 0"rli"!ent h"d the decision in h"8sc"se ? supra @ full/ in !ind;

<he result of this is th"t, e3en h"d + not $een of the 3ie8 th"t the decision in h"8s c"se? supra @ 8"s "s " decision correct, + 8ould h"3e thouht it 8holl/ in"ppropri"te no8 to

re3ie8 it under the freedo! epressed in the st"te!ent 8hich 8"s !"de in 19; <h"t8ould $e for the follo8in re"sonsA ?1@ the decision constituted " cle"r pronounce!ent of

this ouse "s to 8h"t the l"8 8"s "nd h"d $een) ?2@ it 8"s " decision in rel"tion to thecri!in"l l"8 8here cert"int/ is so desir"$le) ?'@ the decision h"s $een "cted upon "nd !"n/

cri!in"l prosecutions h"3e $een $"sed upon the "uthorit/ of it) ?4@ the decision 8"s one8hich "ttr"cted pu$lic "ttention "nd 8hich on different occ"sions h"s $een $rouht

p"rticul"rl/ to the "ttention of 0"rli"!ent) ?(@ 0"rli"!ent h"s not "ltered the l"8) ?@8hether " ch"ne in the l"8 could or could not h"3e $een effected "s p"rt of the pro3isions

of the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 194, or of the eu"l :ffences ct 197, or of the <he"tresct 19%, is i!!"teri"l; <he pro3isions "nd contents of those cts could 8ell h"3e

sti!ul"ted "n "lter"tion of the l"8 "s l"id do8n in h"8s c"se ? supra@ h"d 0"rli"!ent sodesired;



<houh counsel for the "ppell"nts !"int"ined th"t h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s 8ronl/decided, he 8isel/ refr"ined fro! e!$"rkin upon the cit"tion "nd e"!in"tion of the !"ss

of "uthorit/ 8hich 8"s considered 8hen h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s "rued; <o h"3e done so8ould h"3e etended the he"rin $/ *656 !"n/ d"/s 8hich 8ould, "s 8"s "reed, h"3e

$een e!plo/ed in lookin ""in "t the !"teri"l pre3iousl/ re3ie8ed; +t suffices for !e ""into record !/ "ree!ent 8ith the speech 8hich 8"s deli3ered in h"8s c"se ? supra @ $/

Lord <ucker;

+ p"ss then to consider the second count; +t ch"red the "ppell"nts 8ith the offence of

conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/; <he p"rticul"rs "lleed th"t $et8een cert"in d"tes the"ppell"nts conspired toether "nd 8ith persons insertin le8d disustin "nd offensi3e

"d3ertise!ents in issues of the !""5ine "nd 8ith other persons unkno8n, $/ !e"ns of thepu$lic"tion of the !""5ine, to outr"e pu$lic decenc/; +n re"rd to this count " 3er/

li!ited contention 8"s presented; +t 8"s "ccepted th"t there is "n offence of conspir"c/ tooutr"e pu$lic decenc/, $ut it 8"s "rued th"t there 8"s nothin o$Cection"$le on the

outside of the !""5ines "nd th"t "s the "d3ertise!ents co!pl"ined of 8ould onl/ presentthe!sel3es to those 8ho looked "t "nd re"d the inner p"es of the !""5ines the offence

of outr"in pu$lic decenc/ h"d not $een co!!itted; <his contention finds its epression inthe second point of l"8 of ener"l pu$lic i!port"nce 8hich 8"s certified $/ the .ourt of

ppe"l iz.8hether "n "ree!ent to insert "d3ertise!ents ? i.e. those 8here$/ "dult !"le"d3ertisers seek replies fro! other "dult !"les 8ho "re prep"red to consent to co!!it

ho!oseu"l "cts 8ith the! in pri3"te@ on the inside p"es of " !""5ine 8ith " 8idecircul"tion, on s"le in pu$lic pl"ces, "nd 8hich 8"s re"d indi3idu"ll/ "t "n/ one ti!e $/ "

nu!$er of people in different pl"ces, is c"p"$le of "!ountin to the offence of conspir"c/ tooutr"e pu$lic decenc/;

+n reconisin th"t there is " co!!on l"8 offence of conspirin to outr"e pu$lic decenc/

le"rned counsel for the "ppell"nts 8"s "!pl/ supported $/ "uthorit/; + 8ould respectfull/"dopt 8h"t !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend, Lord Reid, s"id in his speech in h"8s c"se

? supra @ ?"t pp; 14 "nd 2%1 of the respecti3e reports@A =+ sh"ll not e"!ine the "uthorities

$ec"use + think th"t the/ est"$lish th"t it is "n indict"$le offence to s"/ or do or ehi$it

"n/thin in pu$lic 8hich outr"es pu$lic decenc/, 8hether or not it "lso tends to corrupt "nddepr"3e those 8ho see or he"r it; +n !/ 3ie8, it is open to " Cur/ to hold *657 th"t " pu$licin3it"tion to indule in seu"l per3ersion does so outr"e pu$lic decenc/ "s to $e "

punish"$le offence; +f the Cur/ in this c"se h"d $een properl/ directed, the/ !iht 8ell h"3efound the "ccused uilt/ for this re"son; nd the offence 8ould $e the s"!e 8hether the

in3it"tion 8"s !"de $/ "n indi3idu"l or $/ se3er"l people "ctin in concert;> <he l"st t8osentences rel"ted to the f"ct th"t so!e of the "d3ertise!ents in the pu$lic"tion then in

uestion etended $e/ond 8h"t 8"s c"lled =ordin"r/ prostitution;>

+n M"/lin ?19'@ 47 .r;pp;R; 1&') *19' 2 I;B; 717 the ch"re in the indict!ent 8"s

th"t $/ re"son of cert"in descri$ed $eh"3iour the "ccused co!!itted "n "ct of " le8d,o$scene "nd disustin n"ture 8hich outr"ed pu$lic decenc/; Eo uestion of " conspir"c/

"rose; sh8orth J; in deli3erin the Cud!ent of the .ourt of .ri!in"l ppe"l held th"t it8"s 8ell est"$lished th"t there 8"s "n offence of co!!ittin "n "ct outr"in pu$lic

decenc/ ?indeed the contr"r/ h"d not $een contended@ "nd th"t the "ct co!pl"ined of !ust$e co!!itted in pu$lic if it is to constitute the offence; ence, if 8h"t 8"s "lleed 8"s so!e

indecent "ct, the prosecution h"d to pro3e th"t such "ct 8"s co!!itted in pu$lic in thesense th"t !ore th"n one person !ust h"3e $een "$le to see it;

<he e3idence in the present c"se est"$lished th"t the !""5ines 8ere on s"le in pu$licpl"ces; <here 8"s e3idence th"t 1(,&&& copies 8ere t"ken $/ " distri$utor in 6"st London

https://web2.westlaw.com/find/default.wl?mt=208&db=999&tc=-1&rp=%2Ffind%2Fdefault.wl&findtype=Y&ordoc=1972022544&serialnum=1963016165&vr=2.0&fn=_top&sv=Split&tf=-1&pbc=E3DD10A2&rs=WLW14.07




"nd th"t those copies 8ent to shops "nd ne8s"entsA "nother distri$utor took so!e ,&&&or %,&&& copies 8hich he supplied to shops "nd ne8s"ents "nd collee $ookshops; o!e

4,&&& or (,&&& 8ent to other s!"ller distri$utors; o!e copies 8ere sold $/ street sellers;+n "ddition there 8"s " su$scription list; h"t 8"s s"id 8"s th"t, thouh the s"les 8ere in

pu$lic so th"t "n/ !e!$er of the pu$lic could $u/, there 8"s no outr"e of pu$lic decenc/$ec"use !e!$ers of the pu$lic 8ould h"3e to re"d the inside r"ther th"n the outside of

8h"t the/ $ouht $efore the/ 8ere outr"ed "nd further th"t !e!$ers of the pu$lic 8ould$e outr"ed sep"r"tel/ "nd not in collecti3e roups; +t 8"s further s"id th"t the offence no8$ein *658 considered is onl/ co!!itted if there is so!e "ct ?such "s "n "ct of indecent

eposure@ 8hich is done in pu$lic; Hurther!ore, th"t there 8"s no e"ct precedent 8hich

recorded p"rticul"rs of the offence si!il"r to those in the present c"se;

M/ Lords, + c"nnot "ccept these contentions; +t see!s to !e to $e 8holl/ unre"listic to s"/

th"t if " !""5ine 8hich is sold in pu$lic h"s !"tter on its outside co3er 8hich outr"espu$lic decenc/ ?8hich !e"ns outr"es the sense of decenc/ of !e!$ers of the pu$lic@ "n

offence is then co!!itted, 8here"s if the outside co3er of the !""5ine is pl"in "ndinnocuous $ut if "s soon "s the !""5ines "re opened the !e!$ers of the pu$lic 8ho $u/

the! "re outr"ed $/ "ll th"t the/ see, then no offence is co!!itted;

+t !"/ 8ell $e th"t in this present c"se it 8ould h"3e $een sufficient to prefer onl/ count 1;

But the conceptions of the t8o counts "re different; .ount 1 "llees "n intention to de$"uch"nd corrupt; .ount 2 r"ises the issue not 8hether people !iht $e corrupted, $ut 8hether

the sense of decenc/ of !e!$ers of the pu$lic 8ould $e outr"ed; +t is to $e o$ser3ed th"tit is not suested th"t pu$lic"tion of the "d3ertise!ents in the !""5ines could $e s"id to

h"3e $een Custified "s $ein for the pu$lic ood on the round th"t the "d3ertise!ents 8erein the interests of science or liter"ture or "rt or le"rnin or of other o$Cects of ener"l

concern; <houh the "ssur"nce i3en to the ouse of .o!!ons in 194 8"s in reference to

" ch"re of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls, the spirit "nd intend!ent of the "ssur"nce8ould cle"rl/ "ppl/ in reference to " ch"re of conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/;

<he contention th"t no e"ct precedent h"s $een produced sho8in th"t the offence ?the

eistence of 8hich "s "n offence is "ccepted@ h"s not pre3iousl/ $een "lleed to h"3e $eenco!!itted in this precise !"nner is refuted $/ the st"te!ents in h"8s c"se ? supra @ to

8hich + h"3e "lluded;

<he $ooks cont"in nu!erous e"!ples of cri!in"l conspir"cies 8hich h"3e $een held to $e

such $ec"use of the p"rticul"r purposes 8hich those "reein desired to effect; Reference!"/ $e !"de to #enn/s :utlines of .ri!in"l L"8, 1%th edition , *659p"es 412P41 et

se!. , to Russell on .ri!e, 12th edition , p"es 149P1494 , to rch$old, '7th edition, p"e1'4' et se!. +t 8ould $e uite i!pr"ctic"$le to seek to consider or to re3ie8 "ll the !"n/

c"ses cited; <he/ could neither $e "ppro3ed nor dis"ppro3ed in $ulk; + t"ke !erel/ onee"!ple + do not suppose th"t it 8ould $e contested th"t " conspir"c/ is cri!in"l if its

purpose is to pre3ent or to o$struct or to per3ert or to defe"t the course of pu$lic Custice; +

c"nnot think th"t it 8ould $e "n "ns8er to " ch"re to "ssert th"t the p"rticul"r !e"nse!plo/ed for per3ertin or o$structin the course of pu$lic Custice h"d ne3er $efore $eenthouht of or used so th"t no pre3ious indict!ent could $e tr"ced the p"rticul"rs of 8hich

set out "s the !e"ns e!plo/ed those 8hich onl/ ne8 inenuit/ h"d de3ised;

+n re"rd to count 2 the le"rned Cude "t the tri"l re!inded the Cur/ of "ll th"t he h"d s"id

"s to the n"ture of " conspir"c/ "nd told the! th"t count 2 "lleed "n offence uitesep"r"te "nd distinct fro! th"t "lleed in count 1; e told the! th"t the/ h"d to $e s"tisfied

th"t the "d3ertise!ents 8ere le8d, disustin "nd offensi3e "nd th"t the p"rticul"r "ccused



person 8"s " p"rt/ to "n "ree!ent to outr"e pu$lic decenc/; e c"refull/ re!inded the!th"t pu$lic feelin 3"ries fro! one ener"tion to "nother so th"t 8h"t 8ould outr"e pu$lic

decenc/ in one ener"tion 8ould p"ss un-noticed in the netA so the Cur/ h"d to $e s"tisfiedth"t the "d3ertise!ents did outr"e pu$lic decenc/ "nd th"t there 8"s "n "ree!ent to

outr"e pu$lic decenc/; <he !"tter 8"s + think f"irl/ "nd sufficientl/ su$!itted to the Cur/for their consider"tion "nd their decision;

+n i3in the Cud!ent of the .ourt of ppe"l Henton "tkinson L;J; s"id th"t to est"$lishuilt it 8"s not necess"r/ to h"3e ="n "ctu"l "ct 8hich h"s to $e perfor!ed in pu$lic>A the

.ourt epressed the 3ie8 th"t =8ith " p"per of this kind 8ith " 8ide circul"tion $ein re"d"t "n/ one ti!e $/ nu!erous people in different pl"ces there is no difference in principle

$et8een th"t "nd, let us s"/, " $lue fil! 8hich is seen $/ onl/ t8o or three people "t onep"rticul"r ti!e;>

<he !""5ines here in uestion 8ere sold in pu$lic to "n/ "nd e3er/ !e!$er of the pu$lic8ho c"red to $u/; <he epect"tion*660 of those 8ho in "ree!ent "rr"ned such pu$lic

disse!in"tion !ust h"3e $een th"t !e!$ers of the pu$lic 8ho $ouht 8ould open the!""5ines th"t the/ $ouht "nd 8ould re"d "nd peruse the inside p"es; +f, in the opinion

of " Cur/, 8h"t 8"s inside could r"tion"ll/ $e re"rded "s le8d, disustin "nd offensi3e "ndif, in the opinion of " Cur/, the sense of decenc/ of !e!$ers of the pu$lic 8ould $e outr"ed

$/ seein "nd re"din 8h"t 8"s presented to the! to see "nd re"d, + c"n h"rdl/ think th"t" prosecution !ust f"il if $ut onl/ if "nd onl/ $ec"use the outside p"e 8"s $/ itself

h"r!less;

+ 8ould dis!iss the "ppe"l;

Lord DiplockA

M/ Lords, this "ppe"l r"ises t8o uestions of outst"ndin i!port"nce th"t c"ll for

consider"tion $/ this ouse; + sh"ll confine !/self to the!; <he first isA 8hether thedecision of the !"Corit/ of this ouse in h"8s c"se upon the count 8hich ch"red "

conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls ?191@ 4( .r;pp;R; 11') *192 ;.; 22& 8"s riht; +think th"t it 8"s 8ron; <he second isA ouht it to $e follo8ed e3en if it 8"s 8ronO + think

th"t it should not;

Hor !/ p"rt, + "! un"$le to dr"8 the distinction 8hich h"s co!!ended itself to so!e of

/our Lordships $et8een " =conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls,> 8hich is the su$Cect of thefirst count ""inst the "ppell"nts, "nd " =conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/,> 8hich is the

su$Cect of the second count; <he old Cudici"l dict" 8hich in h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8ere

tre"ted "s the historic"l Custific"tion for holdin th"t "n "ree!ent to do "n/thin 8hichtended to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls "!ounts to " cri!e "t co!!on l"8, do not, "s + hope to

sho8, dr"8 "n/ distinction $et8een conduct or conspir"cies directed ""inst pu$lic !or"ls

"nd conduct or conspir"cies directed ""inst pu$lic decenc/; s " !"tter of decision h"8s

c"se ? supra @ 8"s li!ited to conspir"cies to corrupt pu$lic !or"lsA "s " !"tter of Cudici"lre"sonin its scope c"nnot loic"ll/ $e so confined; <o $o8 to the decision, /et to den/ thele"l re"sonin upon 8hich it 8"s $"sed, is to dr"8 the kind of distinction 8hich reflects

discredit on the 6nlish le"l s/ste!; <o deli3er the L"8 Lords *661 fro! the te!pt"tion todo this 8"s one of the o$Cects of the ch"ne of polic/ "nnounced in Jul/ 19;

+f the re"sonin of the !"Corit/ in h"8s c"se ? supra @ is to $e follo8ed, + do not thinkth"t "n/ of the det"iled criticis!s 8hich h"3e $een directed to the "deu"c/ or "ccur"c/ of

the Cudes eposition to the Cur/ of the l"8 on either count in the inst"nt c"se Custif/



"llo8in this "ppe"l; +t is "l8"/s e"s/ to nile "t isol"ted 8ords "nd phr"ses used in "ni!pro!ptu su!!in-up; h"t !"tters is th"t the Cur/ should h"3e h"d their !inds f"irl/

directed to 8h"t it is th"t the/ h"3e ot to decide; <he Cude 8"s $ound to "ccept "nd to"ppl/ the re"sonin in h"8s c"se ? supra @ "nd to direct the Cur/ "ccordinl/; + think he

did so "deu"tel/; .onseuentl/ this "ppe"l c"n, in !/ 3ie8, onl/ succeed on either count if /our Lordships "re prep"red to eercise the po8er 8hich this ouse "lone possesses of

s"/in th"t the re"sonin in h"8s c"se ? supra @ is 8ron;

<he rele3"nt count in h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s l"id in conspir"c/, "s "re $oth the counts in

the inst"nt c"se; <he de3ice of ch"rin " defend"nt 8ith "reein to do 8h"t he didinste"d of ch"rin hi! 8ith doin it h"s $eco!e f"shion"$le in recent /e"rs; +t !"/ h"3e

h"d " tendenc/ to corrupt Cudici"l re"sonin, to 8hich + sh"ll re3ert l"ter; But !/ !"Corcriticis! of the re"sonin of the !"Corit/ of this ouse in h"8s c"se ? supra @ does not

depend upon the ch"re h"3in $een one of conspir"c/; <h"t re"sonin c"n $e reduced to "si!ple s/llois!; 63er/ "ree!ent to do "n/ "ct 8hich tends to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls is "

cri!e "t co!!on l"8; h"8s "ct of pu$lishin "d3ertise!ents for prostitutes solicitinfornic"tion tended to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls; <herefore h"8s "ree!ent to do th"t "ct 8"s

" cri!e "t co!!on l"8; +n 6nlish l"8 it is for the Cude "lone to deter!ine 8hether the!"Cor pre!ise in such " s/llois! is true; <he truth of the !inor pre!ise is " uestion for

the Cur/, if there is "n/ !"teri"l upon 8hich " r"tion"l $ein could hold it to $e true; + donot criticise the Cur/s 3erdict in the inst"nt c"se upon the !inor pre!ise; + den/ the

conclusion onl/ $ec"use + "! con3inced th"t the !"Cor pre!ise is f"lse;

+n h"8s c"se ?supr"@ the .ourt of ppe"l upheld the *662 con3iction on the ch"re of

=conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls> upon the $ro"d round th"t it is "n est"$lishedprinciple of co!!on l"8 th"t conduct c"lcul"ted or intended to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls ?"s

opposed to the !or"ls of " p"rticul"r indi3idu"l@ is "n indict"$le !isde!e"nour; :n this

3ie8, h"8s conduct in pu$lishin "d3ertise!ents of ser3ices offered $/ prostitutes 8"s initself " cri!e; ere it not for the st"tutor/ prohi$ition on such proceedins cont"ined in

section 2 ?4@ of the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9, 8hich it 8"s held did not etend to

prosecutions for conspir"c/, it 8ould h"3e $een unnecess"r/ to ch"re hi! 8ith his prior

"ree!ent 8ith the prostitutes to pu$lish their "d3ertise!ents inste"d of ch"rin hi! 8iththe su$st"nti3e offence of pu$lishin the!; s + re"d Kiscount i!onds speech in the"ppe"l to this ouse, he too 8"s of this opinion; h"t he there s"id 8"s epressl/

concurred in $/ !/ no$le "nd le"rned friends, Lord odson "nd Lord Morris of Borth-/-Gest,thouh Lord <ucker, 8hile not reCectin this 3ie8, preferred to rest his decision upon the

round th"t "n/ "ree!ent to do "n "ct 8hich is c"lcul"ted to c"use pu$lic inCur/ is "conspir"c/ indict"$le "t co!!on l"8; =+s it not !eet "nd Cust, th"t 8hen the 8icked sort of

!en h"3e ecoit"ted "n/thin 8ith re"t l"$our of 8it "nd cunnin, so "s it !"/ see!ethe/ h"3e dr"8ne " uintessence of !ischief, "nd set the s"!e "$ro"ch to the re!edilesse

h"r! of the ood "nd uiet su$Cect) +s it not !eet "nd Cust ?+ s"/@ th"t "uthoritie itselfe"lso should str"ine the line of Custice $e/ond the ordin"r/ lenth "nd 8onted !e"sure to

t"ke euisite "3ene!ent upon the! for itO Ye" is it not necess"r/ th"t the !ost odl/,honour"$le, 8ise "nd le"rned persons of the l"nd should $e "ppe"led unto, th"t the/ !"/

"ppl/ ne8 re!edies for these ne8 dise"sesO> <his "nticip"tor/ p"r"phr"se of Kiscounti!onds re"sonin in h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s 8ritten $/ L"!$"rd in 1(91 in pr"ise of

the de3elop!ent of the cri!in"l l"8 under the <udor Mon"rch/ $/ the .ouncil "nd its Cudici"l "r!, the .ourt of the t"r .h"!$er; <he ne8 !isde!e"nours cre"ted, "s 8ell "s

conis"$le, $/ the t"r .h"!$er durin " period 8hen the distinction $et8een leisl"ti3e,eecuti3e "nd Cudici"l functions h"d not /et $een cle"rl/ *663 dr"8n, $ec"!e p"rt of the

co!!on l"8; fter the "$olition of the t"r .h"!$er in 141 the/ continued to $eprosecuted, $ut in the .ourts of co!!on l"8; fter the Restor"tion in 1', upon "n

indict!ent for conduct 8hich "ppe"rs to h"3e in3ol3ed $l"sphe!/ "s 8ell "s indecent



eposure, the .ourt of #ins Bench in idle/s c"se ?1 id; 1% @ "sserted in unu"lifiedter!s its function, in succession to the t"r .h"!$er, "s Custos "oru" de touts les

sub#ects le Ro$ "nd its conseuent po8er to punish such prof"ne "ctions, contr"r/ "like to!odest/ "nd .hristi"nit/, "s those co!!itted $/ ir .h"rles idle/; <his is the e"rliest

"uthorit/ relied upon in h"8s c"se ? supra @ for the proposition th"t there is such "noffence "s " conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls; But there 8"s no suestion of conspir"c/

in idle/s c"se ? supra @; <he .ourt does not "ppe"r to h"3e differenti"ted $et8eenoffences ""inst reliion "nd offences ""inst !or"ls; <he report, one of the l"st to $e8ritten in Eor!"n Hrench, is little !ore th"n " note "$out the c"se; +t is not, in !/ 3ie8,

proper to re"rd it tod"/ "s "uthorit/ for "n/ 8ider proposition th"n th"t indecent eposure

!"/ "!ount to " co!!on l"8 !isde!e"nour;

<he 8ide cl"i! of the .ourt to $e custos "oru" of "ll the #ins su$Cects 8"s used in the

follo8in centur/ princip"ll/ to co!$"t the "ru!ent th"t offences ""inst reliion or!or"lit/ 8ere conis"$le onl/ in the ecclesi"stic"l .ourts, 8hose Curisdiction o3er the l"it/

h"d $/ th"t ti!e dec"/ed; +n .urlsc"se ?1727@ 2 tr"; 7%% ) 1 B"rn #;B; 29, the e"rliestsuccessful prosecution for o$scene li$el, the report in %trange , 8hich cont"ins notes of the

"ru!ent $ut not of the fin"l Cud!ent, indic"tes th"t the cl"i! to $e custos "oru" 8"srelied upon $/ the .ourt in Custific"tion of its "ssertion of Curisdiction o3er the offence; <he

report inBarnardiston , 8hich is "pp"rentl/ " note of the fin"l Cud!ent of the .ourt, sho8sth"t the rounds upon 8hich the pu$lic"tion of "n o$scene li$el 8"s held to $e "n offence

8ere =th"t reliion 8"s p"rt of the co!!on l"8) "nd therefore 8h"te3er is "n offence""inst th"t is e3identl/ "n offence ""inst the co!!on l"8; Eo8 !or"lit/ is the

fund"!ent"l p"rt of reliion "nd therefore 8h"te3er strikes ""inst th"t !ust forthe *664 s"!e re"son $e "n offence ""inst the co!!on l"8;> +t is sinific"nt th"t the

"uthorit/ relied upon in Barnardiston&s report of the Cud!ent 8"s not idle/s c"se? supra @ $ut <"/lors c"se ?17@ 1 Kent; 29' 8hich 8"s " prosecution for $l"sphe!/the

first to $e tried in " te!por"l .ourt;

.urls c"se ? supra @ is the second in the trilo/ of e"rl/ c"ses relied upon in h"8s c"se

? supra @; "in, it 8"s not one of conspir"c/ "nd the reports of the Cud!ent "re

uns"tisf"ctor/; +t is "uthorit/ for the proposition th"t it is " co!!on l"8 !isde!e"nour topu$lish "n o$scene li$el, $ut the re"sonin $/ 8hich the .ourt re"ched this conclusion8ould no loner $e "ccept"$le ? c'. Bo8!"n 3; ecul"r ociet/ *1917 ;.; 4& @;

<he third of the trilo/ of c"ses relied upon in h"8s c"se ? supra @ is Del"3"l ?17'@ 'Burr; 14'4 ; <his 8"s " c"se of conspir"c/ to procure " irl of se3enteen to $eco!e the

!istress of ir Hr"ncis Del"3"l; +t 8"s strenuousl/ "rued th"t this 8"s "n offenceconis"$le onl/ in the ecclesi"stic"l .ourts; +n "ssertin the Curisdiction of the .ourt of the

#ins Bench , Lord M"nsfield cited "s precedents idle/s c"se ? supra @ "nd .urls c"se? supra @, $oth of 8hich he referred to "like "s =offences ""inst ood !"nners;> e "ppe"rs

to tre"t this epression "s s/non/!ous 8ith =pu$lic decenc/,> 8hich no dou$t included!or"lit/ $ut 8"s not li!ited to th"t; <his is $orne out $/ the l"ter c"se of L/nn ?17%%@ 2

<er! Rep; 7'' 8here the defend"nt 8"s indicted 8ith ehu!in " corpse for the purposesof dissection; "in, it 8"s "rued th"t interference 8ith " corpse 8"s "n ecclesi"stic"l

offence onl/) $ut the .ourt held th"t =the offence 8"s conis"$le in " cri!in"l .ourt "s$ein hihl/ indecent "ndcontra bonos "ores ;> Eo uestion of !or"ls here "rose; Eor 8"s

there "n/thin =pu$lic> in the ordin"r/ sense "$out the conduct of the defend"nts inDel"3"ls c"se ? supra @ or L/nns c"se ? supra @ecept th"t the/ 8ere found out;

+n Del"3"ls c"se ? supra @, Lord M"nsfield relied upon the f"ct th"t the ch"re 8"s one ofconspir"c/ "s " round for "ssertin l"ck of Curisdiction in the ecclesi"stic"l .ourts o3er the









offence; + sh"ll re3ert to this l"ter) $ut it 8"s no !ore th"n "n "ddition"l re"son 8h/ Curisdiction l"/ in the .ourt of #ins Bench; <he *665 three "uthorities, one of the!

unreported, 8hich he cited for his ener"l proposition th"t the .ourt =h"s thesuperintendenc/ of offences contra bonos "ores > 8ere none of the! c"ses of conspir"c/;

h"t effect ouht one to i3e tod"/ to ener"l pronounce!ents of this kind "ppe"rin in

the rudi!ent"r/ reports of se3enteenth"nd eihteenth-centur/ c"ses of offences ""instpu$lic decenc/ or !or"lsO Kie8ed in their historic"l settin of the dec"/ of the Curisdiction of the ecclesi"stic .ourts to punish the l"it/ effecti3el/ for sins ""inst the precepts of the

est"$lished .hurch, their purpose 8"s to "ssert so!e principle to Custif/ the "ssu!ption $/" te!por"l .ourt of Curisdiction to tre"t "s " co!!on l"8 !isde!e"nour the p"rticul"r kind

of sinful conduct 8ith 8hich the defend"nt 8"s ch"red; But for the "ru!ent th"t in thesep"rticul"r c"ses the #urisdiction of the te!por"l .ourt 8"s ousted, it 8ould h"3e $een

considered sufficient in those d"/s to rel/ upon the $ro"der principle st"ted in "8kins0le"s of the .ro8n ?Bk; ii, c; 2( , s; 4@ "nd epressl/ "ppro3ed $/ Lord M"nsfield in

Be!$ride ?17%'@ ' Dou; '27 A ="ll !isde!e"nours 8h"tsoe3er of " pu$lic n"ture ""instthe co!!on l"8 !"/ $e indicted;> .ert"in it is th"t the .ourts 8ere not "ssertin

th"t an$ conduct 8hich 8"s contr"r/ to reliion, !or"ls, decenc/ or ood !"nners 8"sindict"$le "s " !isde!e"nour "t co!!on l"8; <his is "pp"rent fro! the f"ct th"t "dulter/,

"lthouh epressl/ prohi$ited $/ the e3enth .o!!"nd!ent, ne3er $ec"!e " cri!e) "ndfro! the concession !"de in the "ru!ent of the "ttorne/-Gener"l in .urls c"se ? supra @

"s reported $/ tr"ne, th"t =p"rticul"r "cts of fornic"tion "re not punish"$le in thete!por"l .ourts "nd $"8d/ ouses "re;> +t 8"s thus onl/ cert"in kinds of conduct, 8hich

the/ re"rded "s p"rticul"rl/ reprehensi$le, th"t the Cudes of th"t period 8ere prep"red totre"t "s cri!es; +t 8ould see! to h"3e $een considered th"t the conduct !ust h"3e so!e

=pu$lic> ele!ent in it, either in its conseuences or in the !"nner of its co!!ission; Butthis 8"s " concept co!!on to other !isde!e"nours 8hich oriin"te fro! the s"!e period;

<here is no dou$t th"t durin this period the .ourt of #ins *666 Bench not infreuentl/

"sserted the po8er, 8hich h"d pre3iousl/ $een freel/ eercised $/ the t"r .h"!$er, to

tre"t "s !isde!e"nours conduct of 3"rious kinds 8hich h"d not pre3iousl/ $een punish"$le

cri!in"ll/; <he/ eercised it throuhout the 8hole field of the cri!in"l l"8 not "lre"d/co3ered $/ eistin felonies "t co!!on l"8 or those cre"ted $/ st"tute; 0"rli"!ent 8"sl"rel/ content to le"3e this leisl"ti3e field to the .ourts, $/ 8hich historic"ll/ it h"d $een

de3eloped) "nd the doctrine of precedent 8"s still in its for!"ti3e st"e in the .ourtsthe!sel3es; +n Be!$ride ? supra @, 8hich 8"s " ch"re of !is$eh"3iour in " pu$lic office

under the .ro8n, Lord M"nsfield $rushed "side the "ru!ent th"t there 8"s no precedentof " prosecution for the kind of conduct 8ith 8hich the defend"nt 8"s indictedA = it is s"id

there is no precedent; <he l"8 does not consist of p"rticul"r c"ses $ut of ener"l principles8hich "re illustr"ted "nd epl"ined $/ these c"ses;> is o8n 3ie8, 8hich he h"d "d3"nced

"s " L"8 :fficer "nd h"d re-"ffir!ed "t the close of his life, 8"s th"t refor! of the l"8 8"s$etter undert"ken $/ the Cudes th"n $/ the leisl"ture; e did not hesit"te to "ct upon it in

his Cud!ents;

t " ti!e 8hen 0"rli"!ent !et infreuentl/ "nd o3ern!ent 8"s not pro3ided 8ith

"deu"te "d!inistr"ti3e !"chiner/, such pretensions on the p"rt of the Cudici"r/ todeter!ine 8h"t conduct ouht to $e punished cri!in"ll/ !"/ 8ell h"3e $een Custified in the

interests of pu$lic order "nd proper "d!inistr"tion of the o3ern!ent ser3ice; <he/continued to $e "cted upon 8ell into the nineteenth centur/; Moore ?1%'2@ ' B; Q d; 1%4 ,

8hich oriin"ted the !isde!e"nour of pu$lic nuis"nce, is "n e"!ple;



But $/ the !iddle of the nineteenth centur/ the concept of the sep"r"tion of Cudici"l "ndleisl"ti3e po8ers in the field of cri!in"l l"8 h"d $een "ccepted under the influence of such

institution"l 8riters "s Benth"! "nd ustin, 8ho strenuousl/ denied Lord M"nsfields cl"i!th"t the Cudici"r/ 8ere the "ppropri"te $od/ to refor! the l"8; +!!edi"tel/ "fter the first

Refor! ct 0"rli"!ent h"d turned its "ttention to the cri!in"l l"8; fter the est"$lish!entof reul"r police forces su!!"r/ offences, cre"ted $/ ct of 0"rli"!ent, co3ered the field of

pu$lic *667 order; <he first Ro/"l .o!!ission on the .ri!in"l L"8 8"s "ppointed in 1%'';:f this ustin 8"s hi!self " !e!$er; +ts reports "nd those of its successor continued to"ppe"r until 1%4( "nd for!ed the $"sis of the se3en consolid"tin "nd "!endin cts of

0"rli"!ent of 1%1; L"rel/ $ec"use of the opposition of the Cudes these cts did not

epressl/ repe"l, "nd so left int"ct, eistin co!!on l"8 offences e3en 8ithin the field ofoffences 8ith 8hich the/ de"lt; <his 8"s " conseuence of the decision in ."rlile ?1%19@ B; Q

ld; 1' 8hich 8"s l"ter incorpor"ted in the +nterpret"tion ct 1%%9 "s section ''; <hecri!in"l l"8 cts of 1%1 did not purport to de"l 8ith offences ""inst reliion, !or"ls or

decenc/; But ti!es h"d ch"ned "nd the pretensions of the Cudes to etend the cri!in"ll"8 h"d ch"ned 8ith the!; ith the ro8th of reli"$le l"8 reports precedent h"d "ssu!ed

its !odern role; <he use !"de of precedent $/ 0"rke J; "nd his fello8 Cudes in Mirehouse3; Rennell ?1%''@ 1 .l; Q H; (27 , 8hich 8"s cited in h"8s c"se ? supra @, is "lre"d/ in

!"rked contr"st to the !inor role "scri$ed to it $/ Lord M"nsfield fift/ /e"rs $efore in

Be!$ride ? supra @; .ri!e "t co!!on l"8 h"d lon $een fluid; Eo8 it h"d cr/st"llised;

Your Lordships "ttention h"s not $een dr"8n to "n/ c"se decided in the net hundred/e"rs, until h"8s c"se ? supra @ itself, in 8hich conduct h"s $een held to constitute "

!isde!e"nour "t co!!on l"8 on the round th"t it 8"s contr"r/ to reliion, !or"ls ordecenc/, unless it could $e $rouht 8ithin so!e n"rro8er cl"ssific"tion of conduct 8hich

h"d pre3iousl/ $een held to constitute " !isde!e"nour "t co!!on l"8; + 8ill not recite thenu!erous c"ses of this period 8hich h"3e $een referred to in "ru!ent; uffice it to s"/

th"t, in !/ 3ie8, "ll of those in 8hich the defend"nt 8"s held to $e uilt/ of " cri!in"loffence ""inst pu$lic decenc/ or !or"ls f"ll into one or other of the follo8in fi3e

c"teories, for "ll of 8hich precedents could $e found in c"ses decided $efore

1%'2A iz. pu$lishin "n o$scene li$el) conductin "n o$scene or indecent pu$lic ehi$ition)

keepin " disorderl/ ouse) indecent eposure of the person) procurin " 8o!"n to $e "prostitute;

*668

.i3il li"$ilit/ is concerned 8ith the rel"tionship of one citi5en to "nother) cri!in"l li"$ilit/ is

concerned 8ith the rel"tionship of " citi5en to societ/ or"nised "s " st"te; ociet/ is no8"$le to epress its collecti3e 3ie8 "s to 8h"t conduct !erits punish!ent $/ the st"te

throuh " leisl"ture no8 represent"ti3e of "ll "dult citi5ens; +t is not, in !/ 3ie8,co!p"ti$le 8ith the de3elop!ent of 6nlish constitution"l "nd cri!in"l l"8 o3er the p"st

centur/ th"t /our Lordships should "ssu!e the role of =the !ost odl/, honour"$le, 8ise"nd le"rned persons of the l"nd> "nd re-"ssert " po8er =to str"ine the line of Custice $e/ond

the ordin"r/ lenth "nd 8onted !e"sure to t"ke euisite "3ene!ent upon> those 8hoseconduct /ou re"rd "s p"rticul"rl/ reprehensi$le, thouh 0"rli"!ent h"s not found it

necess"r/ to proscri$e it "nd no pre3ious precedent for punishin it c"n $e found;

Eor do + think th"t it 8"s open to the ouse in h"8s c"se ? supra @ to select so!ep"rticul"r field of !ischief in 8hich the po8er of the Cudici"r/ to cre"te ne8 cri!es sur3i3es;

<he ener"l st"te!ents to $e found in the c"ses up to the first p"rt of the nineteenth

centur/ "s to 8h/ the Cudes thouht fit to punish so!e p"rticul"r kind of conduct, if the/ Custif/ "n/thin, Custif/ too !uch; +f these "re to $e the "uthorit/ for 8h"t 8"s done in



h"8s c"se ? supra @, the/ !ust like8ise $e "uthorit/ for " ener"l po8er to punish "n/conduct 8hich the .ourt considers inCurious to the pu$lic; nd if, "s + think, it is not open to

/our Lordships upon these "uthorities to select conduct "ffectin decenc/ or !or"ls "s theonl/ field of conduct in 8hich " po8er to cre"te ne8 offences sur3i3es, " 'ortiori it see!s to

!e i!possi$le to n"rro8 the field still further so "s to eclude conduct 8hich offendsdecenc/ 8hile includin conduct 8hich corrupts !or"ls; +s, then, the cl"i! th"t h"8s

conduct, or th"t of the defend"nts in the inst"nt c"se, "!ounted to " !isde!e"nouri!pro3ed $/ "tt"chin to it the prote"n l"$el of =conspir"c/>O <he suestion th"t it is findsso!e support in the Cud!ent of Lord Godd"rd .;J; in Ee8l"nd ?19('@ '7 .r;pp;R; 1(4)

*19(4 1 I;B; 1(% ; But the $re"dth of Lord Godd"rds st"te!ent of 8h"t "!ounted to "

cri!in"l conspir"c/ 8"s dis"ppro3ed of $/ /our *669 Lordships ouse in Director of 0u$lic0rosecutions 3; Bh"8"n *1972 ;.; & "t p; %1;

<he cri!e of =conspir"c/> in its !odern sense 8"s " cre"tion of the t"r .h"!$er 8hich8"s l"ter "dopted $/ the .ourts of co!!on l"8; +t 8ould "ppe"r to h"3e $een the result of

the confluence of three stre"!s of de3elop!ent 8hich led to its includin " 8ide 3"riet/ ofoffences of 8hich the co!!on ch"r"cteristic 8"s th"t the =o3ert "ct,> 8hich 8"s "

necess"r/ inredient of "n/ cri!e "t co!!on l"8, 8"s pro3ided $/ the conduct of theconspir"tors in "reein 8ith one "nother to do th"t 8hich the/ "reed to do; <his 8"s

est"$lished "s e"rl/ "s 111 in <he 0oulterers c"se ?9 .o;Rep; (($ @;

<he stre"! 8hich h"s the e"rliest historic"l source is th"t 8hich oriin"ted in the 8rit of

conspir"c/ instituted $/ thirteenth-centur/ st"tutes to pro3ide " re!ed/ ""inst t8o or!ore persons 8ho h"d "cted in concert to indict or "ppe"l "nother person of felon/, "nd

th"t other person h"d $een "cuitted $/ the 3erdict of " Cur/; +n the field of ci3il 8rons this8"s the oriin of the !odern tort of !"licious prosecution fro! 8hich the need to sho8 "n

"ree!ent $et8een t8o or !ore persons ulti!"tel/ dis"ppe"red; But 8here "ree!ent

could $e sho8n it "lso $ec"!e in the siteenth centur/ " !isde!e"nour the scope of 8hich8"s etended $/ the .ourt of t"r .h"!$er to include "n/ conspir"c/ $et8een t8o or !ore

persons to inCure "nother $/ !isuse of the process of the .ourts; <he 0oulterers c"se

? supra @ itself is "n e"!ple; <od"/ these 8ould $e cl"ssified "s conspir"cies to per3ert the

course of Custice; +n the eihteenth centur/, ho8e3er, this kind of conspir"c/ 8"s etendedto "ree!ents to inflict unCustifi"$le econo!ic inCur/ upon "nother person in the 8"/ of histr"de or li3elihood, in other 8"/s th"n $/ !isuse of the process of the .ourts; <he e"rlier

inst"nce "ppe"rs to $e M"cklins c"se ?1%&9@ 2 ."!p; '72n ;, " decision of Lord M"nsfieldth"t " conspir"c/ to hiss "n "ctor off the st"e 8"s indict"$le; +t 8"s c"ses in3ol3in this

kind of conduct th"t 8ere cited $/ Lord Godd"rd .;J; in Ee8l"nd , "t pp; 1' "nd 1( of therespecti3e reports, to illustr"te his propositionA =+t is 8ell kno8n th"t there !"/ $e "cts

8hich, if done $/ "n indi3idu"l, *670 8ould not $e indict"$le, or e3en "ction"$le "s " tort,"nd /et !"/ $eco!e $oth "ction"$le "nd cri!in"l if done $/ " co!$in"tion of persons "s

the result of " conspir"c/;> +n the second h"lf of the nineteenth centur/ this "3e rise to the!odern tort of conspir"c/) $ut there is no !odern inst"nce of "n indict!ent for it "s "

!isde!e"nour; +n "n/ e3ent neither h"8s c"se ? supra @ nor the inst"nt c"se c"n $e$rouht 8ithin this c"teor/;

<he second "nd !"in stre"! 8hich contri$uted to the !isde!e"nour of conspir"c/ h"s nore!oter source th"n the .ourt of t"r .h"!$er itself; <he cri!in"l l"8 in !edie3"l ti!es

took "ccount onl/ of co!pleted cri!es; n "tte!pt to co!!it " cri!e, if it 8"sunsuccessful, 8"s not in itself "n/ offence; +t 8"s the .ourt of t"r .h"!$er 8hich first

punished "tte!pts "s $ein in the!sel3es !isde!e"noursiniti"ll/, ir illi"! olds8orth

suests, 8ith the o$Cect of puttin do8n the pr"ctice of duellin; n ="tte!pt> reuiredso!e o3ert "ct of prep"r"tion for the su$st"nti3e cri!e "nd it 8"s " n"tur"l de3elop!ent of











this concept to tre"t "n "ree!ent $et8een t8o or !ore persons to do so!ethin "s "no3ert "ct $/ e"ch of the! prep"r"tor/ to doin it; Kie8ed "s "n"loous to "n ="tte!pt,> "n

"ree!ent in order to $e indict"$le "s " !isde!e"nour h"d to $e " step to8"rds doinso!ethin 8hich, if "cco!plished, 8ould itself $e indict"$le either "s " felon/ or "

!isde!e"nour; But in the period in 8hich the !isde!e"nour of conspir"c/ 8"s $einde3eloped $/ the t"r .h"!$er, the distinction $et8een transgressiones 8hich 8ere onl/

pri3"te 8rons "nd those 8hich 8ere onl/ cri!es or 8ere $oth pri3"te 8rons "nd "lsocri!es 8"s in the course of $ein dr"8n; o!e there 8ere for 8hich the for!er cri!in"lre!ed/ o$t"in"$le $/ present!ent to " Cur/ h"d in l"te !edie3"l l"8 f"llen into desuetude

in f"3our of the !ore effecti3e ci3il re!ed/ pro3ided $/ oriin"l 8rit of tresp"ss or tresp"ss

on the c"se; Hor these, p"rticul"rl/ in the field of tresp"ss to the person, ne8 cri!in"lre!edies 8ere pro3ided in the for! of !isde!e"nours in3ol3in 3iolence conis"$le $/ the

.ourt of t"r .h"!$er; Hor other 8rons, p"rticul"rl/ in the field of fr"ud, the !edie3"lco!!on l"8 "3e no re!ed/ either ci3il or cri!in"l; !"n 8"s re"rded "s h"3in onl/

hi!self to $l"!e *671 if he did not t"ke sufficient prec"utions to "3oid $ein decei3ed $/"nother; s the l"8 8"s de3eloped in the t"r .h"!$er "nd l"ter $/ the co!!on l"8

.ourts, "ll fr"udulent pr"ctices in 8hich there 8ere so!e =pu$lic> ele!ent $ec"!e the!isde!e"nour of " co!!on l"8 che"t; + sh"ll return to this p"rticul"r offence 8hen +

discuss the third stre"! 8hich h"s contri$uted to the !isde!e"nour of conspir"c/; +n

connection 8ith the second stre"! it is sufficient to t"ke note th"t, $/ tre"tin conspir"cies"s constitutin ="tte!pts> to do 8h"t the conspir"tors h"d "reed upon, "n/ enl"re!ent of the c"teories of "cts 8hich constituted !isde!e"nours "lso oper"ted to enl"re the

c"teories of "ree!ents 8hich constituted indict"$le conspir"cies, "nd this processcontinued throuhout the siteenth to the e"rl/ nineteenth centur/, "s + h"3e "lre"d/

!entioned;

<he cl"ssic"l definition of "ree!ents 8hich $ec"!e cri!in"l conspir"cies under this

doctrine 8"s th"t propounded $/ illes J; inMulc"h/ 3; R; ?1%%@ L;R; ' ;L; '& "t p; '17A = conspir"c/ consists in the "ree!ent of t8o or !ore to do "n unl"8ful "ct, or to do "

l"8ful "ct $/ unl"8ful !e"ns; o lon "s such " desin rests in intention onl/ it is not

indict"$le; hen t8o "ree to c"rr/ it into effect, the 3er/ plot is "n "ct in itself, "nd the

f"ct of e"ch of the p"rties, pro!ise ""inst pro!ise, actus contra actu" , c"p"$le of $einenforced if l"8ful, punish"$le if for " cri"inal o$Cect or for the use of cri"inal !e"ns;> +t is

cle"r, fro! the 8ords th"t + h"3e it"licised, th"t in the e"rlier oft-uoted p"rt of this cit"tionilles J; 8"s usin the 8ord =unl"8ful> in the sense of =cri!in"l;> But $ec"use there "re

cert"in c"teories of "cts 8hich "re not cri!in"l if done $/ one person "lone $ut "recri!in"l if done $/ t8o or !ore "ctin in concert, there h"s $een " tendenc/ to re"rd

=unl"8ful "ct> "nd =unl"8ful !e"ns> in the definition "s includin "cts 8hich, thouh notcri!in"l in the!sel3es, "re discour"ed $/ the co!!on l"8 in other 8"/s, either $/

"ffordin " ci3il riht of "ction for d"!"es in tort to the 3icti! of the! or e3en $/ !ererefus"l of the "id of the .ourt to the enforce!ent of " contr"ct to co!!it the!;

M/ Lords, it !"/ $e r"tion"l to hold th"t there "re so!e *672 kinds of "cts 8hich, if done$/ " nu!$er of people "ctin in concert, h"3e conseuences sufficientl/ h"r!ful to c"ll for

punish!ent $/ the t"te, $ut 8hich, if done $/ one person "ctin on his o8n, h"3econseuences th"t "re not r"3e enouh to de!"nd pen"l s"nctions; But it is the heiht of

sophistr/ to s"/ th"t the doin of the "cts in concert 8hich "lone c"n h"3e h"r!fulconseuences is not 8h"t the l"8 re"rds "s !eritin punish!ent, $ut th"t the prior

"ree!ent to do the! is; <his is to turn the co!!on l"8 doctrine of =o3ert "ct,> 8hich 8"sthe oriin of the cri!e of conspir"c/, upon its he"d; +n !ost c"ses of conspir"c/ the prior

"ree!ent is itself onl/ inferred fro! the "cts 8hich h"3e $een done in pursu"nce of it;<he/ "re " conseuence of the conspir"c/, not " step t"ken to8"rds it) 8here"s "





conspir"c/, like "n "tte!pt, $ec"!e " cri!e $ec"use it 8"s " step t"ken to8"rds theco!!ission of " cri!e;

<his !isconception, "s + $elie3e it to $e, results fro! " f"ilure to identif/ " third stre"!

8hich "dded its 8"ters to those of the other t8o + h"3e "lre"d/ !entioned to produce the!odern cri!e of conspir"c/; <his 8"s the reconition in e"rlier centuries of cert"in li!ited

c"teories of conduct 8hich 8ere tre"ted "s cri!es if done $/ persons "ctin in concert, $ut"s i3in rise onl/ to " ci3il re!ed/ if done $/ one person "lone; <hese 8ere !"inl/, if noteclusi3el/, 8ithin the ro8in field of tr"de "nd co!!erce "nd of e!plo/!ent;

ith the dec"/ of the !edie3"l uild s/ste! "s "n effecti3e !e"ns of reul"tin thepr"ctices of those en"ed in p"rticul"r tr"des the ro8in 3oid 8"s filled in !"n/ inst"nces

$/ st"tute, $ut "lso $/ the .ourts, usin "s !e"ns of control the ne8 !isde!e"nour ofconspir"c/; <he po8er of the feud"l !"n"te h"d $een $roken, $ut 8ith the ro8th of tr"de

under the <udor !on"rch/ lesser !en, "ctin in co!$in"tion to pro!ote their section"linterest, could, it 8"s thouht, inCure the econo!/ of the re"l!; +n t"rlin ?14@ 1 id;

17& " conspir"c/ "!on $re8ers to $re8 s!"ll $eer inste"d of stron in order to reduce there3enue fro! ecise 8"s held to $e cri!in"l) "nd in Journe/!"n <"ilors of ."!$ride

?1721@ % Mod; 1& " conspir"c/ "!on 8ork!en to r"ise their 8"es 8"s held to $eindict"$le *673 "s " !isde!e"nour; +t 8"s st"ted in th"t c"se ?"t p; 11@A =" conspir"c/ of

"n/ kind is ille"l, "lthouh the !"tter "$out 8hich the/ conspired !iht h"3e $een l"8fulfor the!, or "n/ of the!, to do if the/ h"d not conspired to do it, "s "ppe"rs in the c"se of

<he <u$8o!en 3; <he Bre8ers of London ;> Despite the s8eepin n"ture of this st"te!entthis t/pe of !isde!e"nour 8"s l"ter confined to "ree!ents "ffectin tr"de or e!plo/!ent;

+t is to $e distinuished fro! the n"rro8er conspir"c/ to inCure "n indi3idu"l in his tr"de ore!plo/!ent to 8hich + h"3e pre3iousl/ referred; <he $itter le"c/ it left in the field of

industri"l rel"tions in the nineteenth centur/ is not likel/ to encour"e /our Lordships to

etend it to other fields;

<he second c"teor/ of offence 8hich 8"s indict"$le onl/ if co!!itted $/ t8o or !orepersons "ctin in concert 8"s the product of the !ore ener"l !isde!e"nour of " co!!on

l"8 che"t; Hr"ud 8"s " 8ron for 8hich there 8"s "lso " ci3il re!ed/; <he distinction$et8een fr"ud th"t 8"s indict"$le "nd fr"ud for 8hich the onl/ re!ed/ 8"s " ci3il "ction

depended upon there $ein so!e =pu$lic> ele!ent in the fr"ud; +n he"tl/ ?171@ 2 Burr;112( , 8hich 8"s "n indict!ent for sellin short !e"sure of $eer, Lord M"nsfield ?"t p;

1127@ st"ted the re"sons 8h/ this 8"s onl/ " ci3il 8ron "nd did not "!ount to " cri!in"loffenceA =<he offence th"t is indict"$le !ust $e such " one "s "ffects the pu$lic; s if " !"n

uses f"lse 8eihts "nd !e"sures "nd sells $/ the! to "ll or !"n/ of his custo!ers, or usesthe! in the ener"l course of his de"lin) so if " !"n defr"uds "nother under f"lse tokens;

Hor these "re deceptions th"t co!!on c"re "nd prudence "re not sufficient to u"rd""inst; o if there $e " conspir"c/ to che"tA for ordin"r/ c"re "nd c"ution is not u"rd

""inst this;> <his st"te!ent th"t the eistence of " conspir"c/ c"n suppl/ the necess"r/ =pu$lic> ele!ent to con3ert " ci3il 8ron into " cri!in"l offence is restricted to c"ses of

deceit "nd the re"son $/ 8hich it is Custified is si!il"rl/ restricted; <he doctrine 8"s notetended to other ci3il 8rons, "s for inst"nce to tresp"ss to l"nd ?see per Lord

6llen$orouh in <urner ?1%11@ 1' 6"st 22% "t p; 2'1@ unless there 8"s "n intention to useforce, 8hich 8ould "!ount to " cri!in"l offence in its o8n riht; ee *674 Ro8l"nds

?1%(1@ 17 I;B; 71 8here Lord ."!p$ell .;J; criticised the "ctu"l decision in <urner? supra @ $ut onl/ upon the round th"t the offence ch"red h"d $een of " conspir"c/ to use

force in the course of tresp"ss;





<his 8"s the oriin of the co!!on l"8 !isde!e"nour of conspir"c/ to defr"ud "s illustr"tedin Berener ?1%14@ ' M; Q ; 7 , " conspir"c/ to r"ise the price of pu$lic funds $/

spre"din f"lse ru!ours, "nd spin"ll ?1%7@ L;R; 2 I;B; 4% " si!il"r conspir"c/ to o$t"in "uot"tion on the tock 6ch"ne for the sh"res of " co!p"n/; But the essenti"l ele!ent in

"ll these conspir"cies 8"s "n intention to decei3e not !erel/ "n indi3idu"l, $ut " section ofthe pu$lic; Distinuish"$le fro! these "re c"ses of conspir"c/ to decei3e " dep"rt!ent of

o3ern!ent; ere, independentl/ of conspir"c/, it h"d $een l"id do8n in Be!$ride? supra @ th"t, if the 3icti! of the deception 8ere " o3ern!ent dep"rt!ent, this sufficed tosuppl/ the =pu$lic> ele!ent; =here there is $re"ch of trust, fr"ud or i!position in " !"tter

concernin the pu$lic, thouh "s $et8een indi3idu"ls it 8ould onl/ $e "ction"$le, /et "s

$et8een <he #in "nd the su$Cect, it is indict"$le;> <he c"ses cited $/ Lord Godd"rd inEe8l"nd ? supra @, other th"n M"nle/ ?19'2@ 24 .r;pp;R; 2() *19'' 1 #;B; (29 "nd those

"$out conspir"cies to inCure " !"n in his tr"de or e!plo/!ent to 8hich + h"3e "lre"d/referred 8ere "ll e"!ples of this kind of fr"udulent deception, "nd could h"3e $een

Custified upon this round e3en if the ch"re h"d not $een "lso one of conspir"c/;

M/ Lords, these "uthorities for holdin th"t "ree!ents to do "cts not in the!sel3es

cri!in"l if done $/ one person on his o8n !"/ ne3ertheless "!ount to cri!in"l conspir"ciesh"3e, + $elie3e, "l8"/s $een restricted to the field of tr"de "nd e!plo/!ent "nd, in the c"se

of those 8hich h"3e sur3i3ed into the t8entieth centur/, to "ree!ents to defr"ud or todecei3e; "3e to this li!ited etent, the/ do not, in !/ 3ie8, Custif/ the continued eistence

in the .ourts of "n/ po8er to cre"te ne8 cri!in"l conspir"cies to do "cts of " kind 8hichh"3e not pre3iousl/ $een held to $e cri!in"l in the!sel3es; <his is not to s"/ th"t ne8 8"/s

of fr"udulent deception !"/ not $e de3ised; ree!ents *675 to e!$"rk upon the! 8illf"ll 8ithin the c"teor/ of cri!in"l conspir"cies; But, "s in Director of 0u$lic 0rosecutions 3;

Bh"8"n *1972 ;.; & , so in the inst"nt c"se, there is no uestion of there h"3in $een"n/ fr"ud or deception in 8h"t the defend"nts did; +f 8h"t the/ did 8"s not cri!in"l in

itself, the l"8 of cri!in"l conspir"c/ does not, in !/ 3ie8, en"$le this ouse to con3ert 8h"tthe/ did do into " cri!e $/ "tt"chin to their prior "ree!ent to do it the l"$el of

=conspir"c/> "nd ch"rin the! 8ith th"t inste"d;

M/ Lords, this sur3e/ of the old "uthorities, of 8hich + h"3e chosen for cit"tion onl/ " fe8,h"s dri3en !e to the conclusion th"t until the decision of this ouse in h"8s c"se ? supra @there ne3er h"d $een " ener"lised cri!e kno8n to the co!!on l"8 "s " conspir"c/ to

corrupt pu$lic !or"ls, 8hich e!$r"ces e3er/ "ree!ent to do "n/thin 8hich " Cur/ thinksis likel/ to h"3e th"t effect; nu!$er of different kinds of conduct 8hich h"d this tendenc/

or 8ere offensi3e to pu$lic decenc/ h"d, $/ the !id-nineteenth centur/, cr/st"llised intospecific cri!es) "nd "ree!ents to co!!it these specific cri!es 8ere cri!in"l conspir"cies

8hich, "fter the p"ssin of the +ndict!ents ct 191( , c"!e to $e ch"red under theeneric description of " =conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls> or " =conspir"c/ to outr"e

pu$lic decenc/;> <he constitution"l settin in 8hich Cudes in e"rlier centuries cl"i!ed thepo8er to cre"te ne8 cri!in"l offences h"s lon since p"ssed "8"/; <o h"3e re-"sserted it in

192 8"s, in !/ 3ie8, "n un"ccept"$le Cudici"l usurp"tion of 8h"t h"s no8 $eco!e "neclusi3el/ leisl"ti3e po8er;

+f the decision in h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s 8ron, "s + "! s"tisfied it 8"s, should itnonetheless $e follo8ed, or ouht it to $e o3erruledO <he .ourts should $e the 3iil"nt

u"rdi"ns of the li$ert/ of the citi5en; +f this ouse in its Cudici"l c"p"cit/ h"s !ist"kenl/curt"iled the li$ert/ of the citi5en to do 8h"t he 8"nts to do, $/ holdin th"t if he does it he

is li"$le to $e punished $/ the t"te, it see!s to !e self-e3ident th"t this ouse should

correct its !ist"ke unless there "re co!pellin re"sons to the contr"r/; +t is suested th"tto o3errule h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8ould $rin uncert"int/ to the cri!in"l l"8" field of







l"8 *6768here cert"int/ is p"rticul"rl/ desir"$le; h"8s c"se upon the count 8hichch"red hi! 8ith conspirin to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls did !"ke it cert"in th"t to pu$lish

"d3ertise!ents offerin the ser3ices of prostitutes 8"s " cri!e irrespecti3e of 8hether the"d3ertise!ents the!sel3es 8ere =o$scene> 8ithin the !e"nin of the :$scene 0u$lic"tions

ct 19(9; <o o3errule h"8s c"se ?supra @ 8ill !"ke it eu"ll/ cert"in th"t it is not; <he3ice of h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s th"t it opened " 8ide field of uncert"int/ "s to 8h"t other

conduct 8"s "lso cri!in"l; 0re3iousl/ it 8"s possi$le for " citi5en to reul"te his conduct inthe kno8lede th"t if 8h"t he 8"s !inded to do 8"s not specific"ll/ prohi$ited $/ " cri!in"lst"tute "nd did not f"ll 8ithin "n/ of those eu"ll/ specific c"teories of conduct 8hich h"d

"lre"d/ $een held to constitute offences "t co!!on l"8, he could do it 8ithout risk of

incurrin punish!ent e3en thouh !ost of his fello8-citi5ens !iht $e shocked "t it "si!!or"l or indecent; s " result of h"8s c"se ? supra @ it 8ould see! th"t "n/ conduct of

"n/ kind 8hich conflicts 8ith 8idel/ held preCudices "s to 8h"t is i!!or"l or indecent, "t"n/ r"te if "t le"st t8o persons "re in "n/ 8"/ concerned 8ith it, !"/ e( post 'acto $e held

to h"3e $een " cri!e;

+t is ured th"t e3en if the decision in h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8"s "n i!proper eercise of

leisl"ti3e po8er $/ the ouse "ctin in its Cudici"l c"p"cit/, it h"s no8 $een r"tified $/ theleisl"ture itself, $ec"use the leisl"ture h"s "llo8ed ten /e"rs to p"ss 8ithout t"kin steps

to o3errule it; +t see!s to !e th"t to infer p"rli"!ent"r/ "ppro3"l fro! p"rli"!ent"r/in"ction is to t"ke "n unre"listic 3ie8 of the pressure on p"rli"!ent"r/ ti!e under p"rt/

o3ern!ent "nd of the 8"/ in 8hich priorities in co!petin cl"i!s for ti!e for leisl"tion"re settled; <he suestion th"t 0"rli"!ent t"citl/ "ppro3ed h"8s c"se ? supra @ $/

o!ittin to de"l 8ith it 8hen the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 8"s "!ended in 194 h"s "p"rticul"rl/ hollo8 rin in the liht of the disclosure of the "ssur"nce i3en to 0"rli"!ent $/

" l"8 officer of the .ro8n in the course of the de$"tes on the "!endin Bill th"t "conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls 8ould not $e ch"red so "s to circu!3ent the

st"tutor/ *677 defence in section 4 of the ct of 19(98hich 8"s precisel/ 8h"t h"d $eendone in h"8s c"se ? supra @;

ince e3er/ pri3"te citi5en h"s the riht to initi"te " prosecution for cri!in"l conspir"c/ "nd

the eecuti3e o3ern!ent h"s no po8er to pre3ent his doin so, it is difficult to see ho8effect could $e i3en to this "ssur"nce ecept, perh"ps, $/ unprecedented use $/ the"ttorne/-Gener"l of the po8er of enterin " nolle prose!ui "fter the indict!ent h"d $een

dr"8n, "nd no steps see! to h"3e $een t"ken to dr"8 the "ssur"nce to the "ttention of thepolice "uthorities $/ 8ho! prosecutions "re ener"ll/ undert"ken in the 8"/ in 8hich the

c"se 8"s presented to the Cur/; <he inst"nt prosecutions "ppe"r to $e in $re"ch of it; Yet itsee!s not i!pro$"$le th"t it influenced 0"rli"!ent in decidin on the contents of the

"!endin ct;

Reli"nce is "lso pl"ced upon section 2 ?4@ of the <he"tres ct 19% , "s p"rli"!ent"r/

reconition, since h"8s c"se ? supra @, of the eistence of "n offence "t =co!!on l"8 ofconspirin to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls in respect of "n "ree!ent to present or i3e "

perfor!"nce of " pl"/;> But p"r"r"ph ? a @ of the s"!e su$section "lso reconises th"t ifsuch " perfor!"nce 8ere o$scene it 8ould f"ll 8ithin the c"teor/ of conductin "n o$scene

pu$lic ehi$ition, 8hich is one of the fi3e c"teories of conduct 8hich constitute cri!es""inst pu$lic decenc/ or !or"ls; n "ree!ent to co!!it "n/ such cri!e h"s, since the

+ndict!ents ct 191(, $een ch"red under the ener"l description of =" conspir"c/ tocorrupt pu$lic !or"ls;> ection 2 ?4@ of the <he"tres ct 19% in !/ 3ie8, does no !ore

th"n "dopt this description of the offence of conspirin to conduct "n o$scene or indecent

pu$lic ehi$ition; +t does not constitute "n/ p"rli"!ent"r/ "ppro3"l of the !ore ener"loffence 8hich 8"s held to eist in h"8s c"se;



Eet it is s"id th"t the circu!st"nce th"t there h"3e $een "t le"st thirt/ successfulprosecutions for conspir"cies to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls follo8in the decision in h"8s c"se

? supra @ supplies "n "ddition"l re"son for not o3errulin it; Your Lordships 8ere infor!edth"t !ost of these "rose out of the ehi$ition of o$scene fil!s to !e!$ers of the pu$lic,

8hich is not " st"tutor/*678 offence under the :$scene 0u$lic"tions cts 19(9 "nd 194;<his conduct too 8ould constitute the 8ell-est"$lished co!!on l"8 !isde!e"nour of

conductin "n o$scene or indecent pu$lic ehi$ition "nd " conspir"c/ to co!!it it 8ouldh"3e $een " !isde!e"nour "p"rt fro! the decision in h"8s c"se ? supra @;

Your Lordships need h"3e no fe"r th"t to o3errule h"8s c"se ? supra @ 8ould su$Cect "nun8illin pu$lic to forced p"rticip"tion in i!!or"lities of eposure to indecencies 8hich "re

induled in $/ " !inorit/ in " per!issi3e "e; Most conduct 8hich is offensi3e to pu$lic!or"ls or pu$lic decenc/ is prohi$ited $/ st"tute or f"lls 8ithin the "!$it of so!e specific

!isde!e"nour "t co!!on l"8 8hich h"s lon $een reconised in decided c"ses; "3inre"rd to the contents of so!e of the "d3ertise!ents 8hich 8ere the su$Cect-!"tter of the

ch"res in the inst"nt c"se "nd to the pro3ision of f"cilities for for8"rdin to the "d3ertisers"ns8ers to such "d3ertise!ents, the defend"nts !iht 8ell h"3e $een uilt/ of "n offence

under the :$scene 0u$lic"tions cts of 19(9 "nd 194 or of the co!!on l"8 !isde!e"nourof incitin or procurin the co!!ission of the st"tutor/ offence of doin "cts of ross

indecenc/ 8ith !"le persons under the "e of t8ent/-one; But, if the/ 8ere to $e founduilt/ of those offences, the/ 8ere entitled to $e ch"red 8ith the! "nd to h"3e the 3erdict

of " Cur/ properl/ instructed $/ " Cude upon the le"l ch"r"cter of those p"rticul"roffences; <he/ 8ere not so ch"red, the Cur/ 8"s not so instructed; <he consider"tion th"t

the defend"nts in the inst"nt c"se !"/ h"3e $een undeser3edl/ luck/ if h"8s c"se? supra @ is o3erruled ouht not, in !/ 3ie8, to deter this ouse fro! correctin "n

unfortun"te !ist"ke "s to the co!!on l"8 8hich for the re"sons th"t + h"3e i3en + $elie3eit !"de ten /e"rs "o;

+, for !/ p"rt, 8ould h"3e "llo8ed these "ppe"ls on the first count "s 8ell "s on the second;

Lord i!on of Gl"isd"le

M/ Lords, Count ) A Conspirac$ to corrupt public "orals ; <his count, on 8hich the"ppell"nts 8ere con3icted, re"ds "s follo8s in the indict!entA =t"te!ent of offenceA

.onspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls; 0"rticul"rs *679 of offenceA #nuller ?0u$lishin,0rintin "nd 0ro!otions@ Ltd;, D"3id "ll, 0eter t"nsill "nd Gr"h"! #een, $et8een J"nu"r/

1 "nd M"/ '&, 199, 8ithin the Curisdiction of the .entr"l .ri!in"l .ourt, conspired toether"nd 8ith persons insertin "d3ertise!ents in issues of " !""5ine entitled +<N under the

he"din ML6,N "nd 8ith other persons unkno8n $/ !e"ns of the s"id !""5ine "nd thes"id "d3ertise!ents to induce re"ders thereof to !eet those persons insertin such

"d3ertise!ents for the purpose of seu"l pr"ctices t"kin pl"ce $et8een !"le persons "ndto encour"e re"ders thereof to indule in such pr"ctices, 8ith intent there$/ to de$"uch

"nd corrupt the !or"ls "s 8ell of /outh "s of di3ers other liee su$Cects of :ur L"d/ the

Iueen;>

+n h"8 3; D;0;0; ?191@ 4( .r;pp;R; 11') *192 ;.; 22& /our Lordships ouse,

dis!issin "n "ppe"l fro! the .ourt of .ri!in"l ppe"l, upheld " con3iction on " count of

conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls) "nd in so doin est"$lished "s " !"tter of l"8 =th"tsuch "n offence is kno8n to the co!!on l"8> ?Kiscount i!onds "t pp; 147 "nd 2 of the

respecti3e reports@; +n th"t c"se the conspir"c/ consisted of "n "ree!ent to pu$lish "p"!phlet ?entitled =<he L"dies Director/>@ in 8hich fe!"le prostitutes "d3ertised their

3"rious seu"l ser3ices; +n the course of the speeches in th"t c"se Kiscount i!onds s"id



?pp; 149 "nd 2%@A =Let it $e supposed th"t "t so!e future, perh"ps e"rl/, d"te ho!oseu"lpr"ctices $et8een "dult consentin !"les "re no loner " cri!e; ould it not $e "n offence

if, e3en 8ithout o$scenit/, such pr"ctices 8ere pu$licl/ "d3oc"ted "nd encour"ed $/p"!phlet "nd "d3ertise!entO :r !ust 8e 8"it until 0"rli"!ent finds ti!e to de"l 8ith such

conductO + s"/, !/ Lords, th"t if the co!!on l"8 is po8erless in such e3ent, then 8eshould no loner do her re3erence,> "nd Lord <ucker s"id ?pp; 19 "nd 2%(@A =uppose

0"rli"!ent to!orro8 en"cts th"t ho!oseu"l pr"ctices $et8een "dult consentin !"les isno loner to $e cri!in"l, is it to $e s"id th"t " conspir"c/ to further "nd encour"e suchpr"ctices "!onst "dult !"les could not $e the su$Cect of " cri!in"l ch"re fit to $e left to "

Cur/O> Lord Morris of Borth-/-Gest ?pp; 17 "nd 291@ "nd Lord odson ?pp; *680 17% "nd

292@ epressl/ "reed 8ith the speeches of Lord i!onds "nd Lord <ucker; But thep"ss"es + h"3e Cust cited 8ere obiter ; *biter dicta "re " source of l"8, thouh not "

co!pellin source in the 8"/ th"t the ratio decidendi of " c"se is 8ithin the doctrine ofprecedent) "nd the .ourt of ppe"l in the inst"nt c"se n"tur"ll/ "tt"ched i!port"nce to

the dicta + h"3e cited co!in fro! the sources the/ did "nd concurred in "s the/ 8ere;o8e3er, the tri"l Cude in the inst"nt c"se did not direct the Cur/ 8ith reference to these

p"ss"es) $ut left it "t l"re to the Cur/ to deter!ine on the e3idence 8hether " conspir"c/to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls h"d $een pro3ed; :ne of the "d3ertise!ents r"nA =Youn "/

* i.e. ho!oseu"l@ !"le desper"tel/ needs to e"rn F4& "s soon "s possi$le; ill do "n/thin

le"l; Genuine replies onl/ ple"se;> +n its contet this could h"rdl/ $e re"d "s other th"n "noffer of seu"l prostitution) it differs fro! the "d3ertise!ents in =<he L"dies Director/> onl/in th"t it 8"s "pp"rentl/ !"de $/ " !"le r"ther th"n " fe!"le; nother of the

"d3ertise!ents in the inst"nt c"se r"nA =Youn doll/ $o/ seeks su"r d"dd/; 0hoto"ppreci"ted;>

+t 8"s "t one st"e "rued $efore /our Lordships on $eh"lf of the "ppell"nts th"t the eu"l:ffences ct 197 , h"d "s re"rds the inst"nt c"se "$ro"ted the decision in h"8 3; D;0;0;

? supra @ or h"d !"de the inst"nt c"se distinuish"$le fro! it; ection 1 ?1@ of the eu"l:ffences ct 197 re"dsA =Eot8ithst"ndin "n/ st"tutor/ or co!!on l"8 pro3ision, $ut

su$Cect to the pro3isions of the net follo8in section, " ho!oseu"l "ct in pri3"te sh"ll not

$e "n offence pro3ided th"t the p"rties consent thereto "nd h"3e "tt"ined the "e of

t8ent/-one /e"rs;> ?=<he net follo8in section> pro3ided th"t ho!oseu"l "cts $et8een!e!$ers of the cre8s of nited #indo! !erch"nt ships should continue to $e offences;@

<he "ru!ent for the "ppell"nts $"sed on the eu"l :ffences ct 197 8"s t8ofoldA first,th"t the 8ords =Eot8ithst"ndin "n/ co!!on l"8 pro3ision> 8ere inserted in order to

refer to the co!!on l"8 offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls $/ "n "ree!ent toencour"e or f"cilit"te pri3"te ho!oseu"l "cts $et8een !"le persons o3er t8ent/-one

i.e. in order to o3errule the decision *681 in h"8 3; D;0;0; ?supra @ pro tanto ) secondl/,"nd "ltern"ti3el/, th"t, 0"rli"!ent h"3in s"nctioned such conduct, it could not $e "

conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls to "ree to encour"e or f"cilit"te it;

But the phr"se =Eot8ithst"ndin "n/ co!!on l"8 pro3ision> 8"s reuired $ec"use

$uer/ 8"s "n offence "t co!!on l"8 $efore it $ec"!e " st"tutor/ offence $/ 3irtue ofsection 12 of the eu"l :ffences ct 19( ; <he en"ct!ent of " st"tutor/ offence, e3en

thouh co-ter!inous 8ith " pre3ious co!!on l"8 offence, does not "$ro"te such co!!onl"8 offence ?see +nterpret"tion ct 1%%9, s; '' @) so th"t in turn the st"tutor/ "$ro"tion of

" st"tutor/ offence does not c"rr/ 8ith it "uto!"tic"ll/ the "$ro"tion of the ?e3en co-ter!inous@ co!!on l"8 offence; <he openin phr"se 8"s thus reuired $/ the 3er/ purpose

of section 1other8ise 0"rli"!ent 8ould h"3e $een "$olishin the st"tutor/ offence of$uer/ $et8een consentin "dults in pri3"te onl/ to le"3e " coincident co!!on l"8

offence in $ein"nd this reuisite de!onstr"tes the !e"nin of 0"rli"!ent in en"ctin theopenin phr"se; But it is in "n/ e3ent inherentl/ i!pro$"$le th"t 0"rli"!ent 8ould h"3e

souht to "$olish pro tanto the co!!on l"8 offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls,



so recentl/ "ffir!ed in /our Lordships ouse ?"cco!p"nied $/ the dict" + h"3e cited on its"pplic"tion to the situ"tion 8hich 8ould "rise "fter the p"ssin of such " !e"sure "s the

eu"l :ffences ct 197 @, in such "n o$liue "nd o$scure " 8"/especi"ll/ "s thedecision of /our Lordships ouse h"d in the !e"nti!e $een " su$Cect of so!e contro3ers/;

:n the contr"r/, the p"rli"!ent"r/ !ode in such circu!st"nces is to $e seen in " st"tutep"ssed in the follo8in session, the <he"tres ct 19% ; ection 2 of th"t ct !"kes it

ener"ll/ " punish"$le offence to present o$scene perfor!"nces of pl"/s ?=o$scene> $einst"tutoril/ defined@; u$section ?4@ of section 2 precludes proceedins "t co!!on l"8 inrespect of such perfor!"nces; <he rele3"nt 8ords "re "s follo8sA =?4@ Eo person sh"ll $e

proceeded ""inst ? a @ for "n offence "t co!!on l"8 8here it is of the essence of the

offence th"t the perfor!"nce 8"s o$scene, indecent, offensi3e, disustin or inCurious to!or"lit/ "nd no person *682 sh"ll $e proceeded ""inst for "n offence "t co!!on l"8 of

conspirin to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls, or to do "n/ "ct contr"r/ to pu$lic !or"ls or decenc/, inrespect of "n "ree!ent to present or i3e " perfor!"nce of " pl"/;> + therefore reCect the

"ru!ent for the "ppell"nts, th"t the openin 8ords of section 1 ?1@ of the eu"l :ffencesct 197 pro tanto re3ersed the decision of /our Lordships ouse in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @

"nd !"de in"pplic"$le the offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls pro tanto ;

s for the second "ru!ent for the "ppell"nts founded on the eu"l :ffences ct 197

?n"!el/, th"t conduct s"nctioned $/ 0"rli"!ent could no loner $e considered "ssuscepti$le of corruptin pu$lic !or"ls@, "lthouh 0"rli"!ent decided th"t ho!oseu"l "cts

in pri3"te $et8een persons o3er the "e of t8ent/-one should no loner $e offences either"t co!!on l"8 or $/ st"tute, it does not "ppe"r th"t 0"rli"!ent 8"s e3en neutr"l in its

"ttitude to8"rds such conduct; +n the first pl"ce, there is the eception of ho!oseu"l "ctsin !erch"nt ships to 8hich + h"3e "lre"d/ referred; +n the second pl"ce, not8ithst"ndin

the reco!!end"tion of the olfenden .o!!ittee on 8hich the st"tute 8"s founded ?.!nd;247 of 19(7@, the ct did not etend to cotl"nd; +n the third pl"ce, $/ section 4 it

continues to $e "n offence for to procure " !"le B to co!!it $uer/ or "n "ct of rossindecenc/ 8ith " !"le ., not8ithst"ndin th"t $oth B "nd . "re consentin "dults o3er

t8ent/-one /e"rs of "e "nd th"t the "ct is in pri3"te; ?+ndeed, counsel for the .ro8n

$efore /our Lordships indic"ted th"t, if the offence of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls

h"d not $een "pp"rentl/ "3"il"$le for indict!ent of the "ppell"nts, he 8ould h"3e includedin the indict!ent " count of conspir"c/ to procure ho!oseu"l "cts) "lthouh, since counsel

for the "ppell"nts indic"ted th"t there 8ould $e "n "ns8er to such " ch"re, + !ust not $et"ken "s epressin "n/ opinion 8hether "n indict!ent so fr"!ed 8ould $e likel/ to

succeed;@ +t is, in !/ 3ie8, i!possi$le to spell out of the eu"l :ffences ct 197 "n/indic"tion th"t 0"rli"!ent re"rded the sort of conduct 8hich 8"s the su$Cect-!"tter of

the *683 indict!ent in the inst"nt c"se "s no loner suscepti$le of corruption of pu$lic!or"ls;

+n the end counsel for the "ppell"nts "$"ndoned "n/ "ru!ent th"t the inst"nt c"se 8"sdistinuish"$le fro! Sha 3; D.P.P; ?supra @, either $/ re"son of the eu"l :ffences ct

197 or other8ise) "nd rested his c"se on the contention th"t /our Lordships should declineto follo8 Sha 3; D.P.P; ? supra @; e did not tr"3erse the field of the c"se l"8 8hich 8"s

closel/ co3ered in the speeches in Sha 3; D.P.P; ? supra @, $ut r"ther "rued th"t it 8"so$Cection"$le th"t our l"8 should reconise "n/ such offence "s conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic

!or"ls; + do not !/self find it necess"r/ for Cud!ent in this "ppe"l to epress "n/ opinion8hether the decision in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ 8"s ?in "n "$str"ct Curidic"l sense@ =correct

in l"8> or "s to its desir"$ilit/; +n !/ 3ie8, the "ppe"l turns on ho8 f"r /our Lordships "re Custified in "lterin the l"8 "s pre3iousl/ est"$lished;



<he s"nction for /our Lordships dep"rture fro! " rule of l"8 l"id do8n $/ " pre3iousdecision of /our Lordships ouse rests on "n "nnounce!ent !"de on Jul/ 2, 19, $/

Lord G"rdiner L;.; 8ith the "ppro3"l of "ll the Lords of ppe"l in :rdin"r/ "t th"t ti!e?*19 1 ;L;R; 12'4 @; <he $"ckround to, the !ode of, "nd the ter!s of this

"nnounce!ent "re "ll of i!port"nce to the decision of the inst"nt "ppe"l; Before th"t"nnounce!ent there h"d $een Cud!ents in /our Lordships ouse to the effect th"t /our

Lordships, sittin Cudici"ll/, 8ere $ound $/ " pre3ious decision of /our Lordships ouse inth"t c"p"cit/A see e.g. R"dcliffe 3; Ri$$le Motor er3ices *19'9 ;.; 21( "t pp; 22 ?Lord"tkin@, 2'( ?Lord M"c!ill"n@, 2'% ?Lord riht@) E"sh 3; <"!plin Q ons Bre8er/ ?Brihton@

Ltd; *19(2 ;.; 2'1 "t p; 2(& ?Lord Reid@; <his 8"s put on t8o roundsA first, th"t "

decision of /our Lordships ouse, sittin Cudici"ll/, est"$lished the l"8 in such " 8"/ th"t it8"s $indin on "ll su$Cects of the .ro8n, includin /our Lordships, so th"t it could onl/ $e

"ltered $/ " decision of the entire 0"rli"!ent ? Be"!ish 3; Be"!ish ?1%1@ 9 ;L;.; 274 ,especi"ll/ "t p; ''% ?Lord ."!p$ell@@) "nd, secondl/, such " rule 8"s necess"r/ *684 in

order to pro3ide the l"8 8ith desir"$le cert"int/ ? London <r"!8"/s 3; L;.;.; *1%9% ;.;'7( , especi"ll/ "t p; '%&?Lord "ls$ur/@@; <he decl"r"tion of Jul/ 2, 19 8"s not !"de in

the course of decision of " Cudici"l "ppe"l to /our Lordshipse3en thouh it is in f"ct"ru"$le th"t, not8ithst"ndin "n/thin s"id in pre3ious c"ses, /our Lordships "re entitled

"t co!!on l"8 to dep"rt fro! pre3ious decisionsA c'.the Cud!ent of the upre!e .ourt of

the nited t"tes in Linkletter 3; "lker, '%1 ;; 1% ?19(@ ; Eor 8"s the decl"r"tion ofJul/ 2, 19, the su$Cect-!"tter of st"tutor/ en"ct!ent; But, since the "nnounce!ent 8"s!"de $/ the Lord .h"ncellor, it !ust $e t"ken to h"3e h"d ener"l eecuti3e "ppro3"l) nor

8"s "n/ o$Cection r"ised else8here in 0"rli"!ent; <he ne8 pr"ctice "nnounced in thedecl"r"tion of Jul/ 2, 19, !ust therefore, in !/ 3ie8, $e considered to $e one of those

con3entions 8hich "re so sinific"nt " fe"ture of the British .onstitution, "s 0rofessor Dice/sho8ed in his f"!ous 8ork; But it follo8s, in !/ respectful su$!ission, th"t the "ctu"l

ter!s of the decl"r"tion !ust pro3ide essenti"l uid"nce to /our Lordships in !"kin use ofthe ne8 freedo! 3ouchs"fed $/ it; <hese ter!s 8ere "s follo8sA =<heir Lordships re"rd the

use of precedent "s "n indispens"$le found"tion upon 8hich to decide 8h"t is the l"8 "ndits "pplic"tion to indi3idu"l c"ses; +t pro3ides "t le"st so!e deree of cert"int/ upon 8hich

indi3idu"ls c"n rel/ in the conduct of their "ff"irs, "s 8ell "s " $"sis for orderl/ de3elop!ent

of le"l rules; <heir Lordships ne3ertheless reconise th"t too riid "dherence to precedent!"/ le"d to inCustice in " p"rticul"r c"se "nd "lso undul/ restrict the proper de3elop!ent of

the l"8; <he/ propose therefore to !odif/ their present pr"ctice "nd, 8hile tre"tin for!erdecisions of this ouse "s nor!"ll/ $indin, to dep"rt fro! " pre3ious decision 8hen it

"ppe"rs riht to do so; +n this connection the/ 8ill $e"r in !ind the d"ner of distur$inretrospecti3el/ the $"sis on 8hich contr"cts, settle!ents of propert/ "nd fisc"l

"rr"ne!ents h"3e $een entered into "nd "lso the especi"l need for cert"int/ "s to the

cri!in"l l"8; <his "nnounce!ent is not intended to "ffect the use of precedent else8hereth"n in this ouse;>

*685

+ dr"8 p"rticul"r "ttention to the 8ords =the especi"l need for cert"int/ "s to the cri!in"l

l"8>; + 8ould "lso cite 8h"t !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend on the ools"ck s"id "$out thisdecl"r"tion in Jones 3; ecret"r/ of t"te for oci"l er3ices *1972 1 ll 6;R; 14( "t p;

149.A =M/ underst"ndin of the position 8hen this resolution 8"s "d"pted 8"s "nd is th"tthere 8ere " co!p"r"ti3el/ s!"ll nu!$er of reported decisions of this ouse 8hich 8ere

ener"ll/ thouht to $e i!pedin the proper de3elop!ent of the l"8 or h"3e led to results8hich 8ere unCust or contr"r/ to pu$lic polic/ "nd th"t such decisions should $e

reconsidered "s opportunities "rose; But this pr"ctice 8"s not to $e used to 8e"ken eistincert"int/ in the l"8; <he old 3ie8 8"s th"t "n/ dep"rture fro! riid "dherence to precedent

8ould 8e"ken th"t cert"int/; + did not "nd do not "ccept th"t 3ie8; +t is notorious th"t















8here "n eistin decision is dis"ppro3ed $ut c"nnot $e o3er-ruled .ourts tend todistinuish it on in"deu"te rounds; + do not think th"t the/ "ct 8ronl/ in so doin) the/

"re "doptin the less $"d of the onl/ "ltern"ti3es open to the!; But it is $ound to le"d touncert"int/ for no one c"n s"/ in "d3"nce 8hether in " p"rticul"r c"se the .ourt 8ill or 8ill

not feel $ound to follo8 the old uns"tisf"ctor/ decision; :n $"l"nce it see!s to !e th"to3er-rulin such " decision 8ill pro!ote "nd not i!p"ir the cert"int/ of the l"8;> + h"3e "lso

h"d the "d3"nt"e of re"din 8h"t !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend h"s s"id "$out this !"tterin the speech 8hich he h"s prep"red in the inst"nt "ppe"l "nd + "ree 8ith it;

But it 8"s "rued for the "ppell"nts th"t h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ itself introduceduncert"int/ into the l"8) th"t o3errulin it 8ould introduce " re"ter cert"int/) so th"t /our

Lordships 8ould not $e there$/ offendin ""inst the li!it"tions of the decl"r"tion of Jul/2, 19; +t 8"s ured, in p"rticul"r, th"t le"3in it "t l"re to the Cur/ to s"/ 8hether the

conduct "lleed is corruptin of pu$lic !or"ls in3ol3es th"t no one c"n kno8 until "p"rticul"r Cur/ returns its 3erdict 8hether or not "n offence h"s $een co!!itted) 8here"s

cert"int/ in l"8 de!"nds th"t "n/ citi5en should kno8 in "d3"nce 8hether " conte!pl"tedcourse of conduct offends ""inst the l"8; <o this "ru!ent *686 there "re, + think, t8o

"ns8ers; Hirst, this sort of cert"int/ c"nnot $e 3ouchs"fed $/ " s/ste! of l"8 such "s ours8hich depends in so !"n/ of its rules on the findin $/ " tri$un"l of f"ct 8hether the

conduct in uestion 3ie8ed "s " 8hole h"s re"ched " cert"in st"nd"rd or dereefreuentl/, the st"nd"rd of the re"son"$le !"n; econdl/, the t/pe of cert"int/ "lleed to $e

8"ntin "s " result of the decision in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ 8"s not the t/pe of cert"int/referred to in the decl"r"tion of Jul/ 2, 19;

.ert"int/ is " desir"$le fe"ture of "n/ s/ste! of l"8; But there "re so!e t/pes of conductdesir"$l/ the su$Cect-!"tter of le"l rule 8hich c"nnot $e s"tisf"ctoril/ reul"ted $/ specific

en"ct!ent, $ut "re $etter left to the pr"ctice of Curies "nd other tri$un"ls of f"ct; <he/

depend fin"ll/ for their Curidic"l cl"ssific"tion not upon proof of the eistence of so!ep"rticul"r f"ct, $ut upon proof of the "tt"in!ent of so!e deree; <he l"8 c"nnot "l8"/s s"/

th"t if f"ct "nd f"ct Y "re pro3ed ?$oth of 8hich 8ill ener"ll/ $e kno8n not onl/ to the

tri$un"l of "dCudic"tion, $ut "lso, in "d3"nce, to the persons in3ol3ed@ le"l result S 8ill

ensue; :ften the l"8 c"n onl/ s"/ th"t if conduct of " stipul"ted st"nd"rd is "tt"ined ?or!ore often, is not "tt"ined@ le"l result S 8ill ensue) "nd 8hether th"t st"nd"rd h"s $een"tt"ined c"nnot $e 8ith cert"int/ kno8n in "d3"nce $/ the persons in3ol3ed, $ut h"s to

"8"it the e3"lu"tion of the tri$un"l of f"ct; <his is, indeed, so ch"r"cteristic " fe"ture of6nlish l"8 th"t e"!ples, e3en thouh dr"8n fro! !"n/ different spheres of

Curisprudence, i3e "n in"deu"te i!pression of ho8 per3"si3e it is; "s "n "ct $een done,or " contr"ct perfor!ed, or " dut/ disch"red, 8ithin " re"son"$le ti!eO re oods

re"son"$l/ fit for " p"rticul"r purposeO re the/ of !erch"nt"$le u"lit/O "s the defend"ntso conducted hi!self th"t " re"son"$le person 8ould "ssu!e th"t he 8"s !"kin "

represent"tion of f"ct !e"nt to $e "cted onO h"t is " f"ir price in " !uantu" "eruit O "s eercised proper c"re for the s"fet/ of those to 8ho! the l"8 s"/s he o8es " dut/ of c"re

?the st"nd"rd 3"r/in "ccordin to the le"l rel"tionship of the persons in uestion@O "d Bre"son"$le "nd pro$"$le c"use for "rrestin ., or preferrin " prosecution *687 ""inst

hi!O h"t su! is reuired to co!pens"te D for the inCuries he h"s sufferedO "sre"son"$le notice to uit $een i3enO "s consent to "ssin!ent $een unre"son"$l/

8ithheldO +s the proposed "ssinee " proper "nd responsi$le personO +s the d"!"e due tof"ir 8e"r "nd te"rO +s the d8ellin-house re"son"$l/ fit for hu!"n h"$it"tionO +s it

re"son"$l/ reuired $/ the l"ndlord for his o8n occup"tionO "s " test"tor !"de re"son"$lepro3ision for " depend"nt) "nd, if not, 8h"t 8ould $e re"son"$le pro3isionO +s " child in

need of c"re "nd protectionO hose custod/ does the 8elf"re of the child indic"teO "s "hus$"nd 8ilfull/ nelected to pro3ide re"son"$le !"inten"nce for 8ife or childO "s one

spouse $eh"3ed in such " 8"/ th"t the other c"nnot re"son"$l/ $e epected to continue in



coh"$it"tionO Hor the purpose of " ch"re to t" in respect of shortf"ll in distri$ution $/ "close co!p"n/, ho8 !uch 8"s necess"r/ or "d3is"$le for the !"inten"nce "nd

de3elop!ent of the $usinessO "s the ependiture on entert"inin "n o3erse"s custo!erre"son"$le h"3in re"rd to "ll the circu!st"ncesO "s the f"ct th"t " $"nkrupts "ssets "re

not eu"l to h"lf his unsecured li"$ilities "risen fro! circu!st"nces for 8hich he c"nnot Custl/ $e held responsi$leO "s he $een uilt/ of culp"$le nelect in his $usiness "ff"irsO

"s "n e!plo/er co!plied 8ith the !"nifold reuire!ents of the H"ctories cts so f"r "s isre"son"$l/ pr"ctic"$leO h"t is re"son"$le o3erti!e in industri"l l"8O Hor the purpose ofthe Reul"tions for 0re3entin .ollisions "t e", 8"s there in ener"l due re"rd to the

o$ser3"nce of ood se"!"nshipO "s the 3essel proceedin "t " !oder"te speedO "s "

proper look-out $ein !"int"inedO +s it Cust "nd euit"$le th"t " co!p"n/ should $e 8oundup or " p"rtnership dissol3edO +s " tr"de !"rk likel/ to c"use confusionO +s "n "lleed

infrine!ent of cop/riht no !ore th"n =f"ir de"lin> 8ith the 8orkO hould " cert"indocu!ent $e disclosed, holdin in $"l"nce the conflictin pu$lic interests of eecuti3e

confidenti"lit/ on the one h"nd "nd the "d!inistr"tion of Custice on the otherO "s 6 !"dere"son"$le efforts to effect person"l ser3ice of " 8ritO "s "n "pplic"nt under the Li!it"tion

ct 19' souht "d3ice fro! " =co!petent> person) or *688 "ltern"ti3el/ 8"s it re"son"$lefor hi! to refr"in fro! doin soO <he l"8 does not return "n "ns8er in "d3"nce to "n/ of

these uestions, 8hich "rise $oth "t co!!on l"8 "nd under st"tuteA "ll !ust "8"it the

"ns8er of the tri$un"l; <he/ could $e "l!ost indefinitel/ !ultiplied;

Eor "re such situ"tions li!ited to the ci3il l"8; <he $re"ches of dut/ under the H"ctoriescts i3e rise to cri!in"l "s 8ell "s ci3il li"$ilit/; hether conduct c"usin de"th f"lls so f"r

short of " proper dut/ of c"re "s to "!ount to !"nsl"uhter c"nnot $e kno8n until the Cur/returns its 3erdict; ?=+n order to est"$lish cri!in"l li"$ilit/ the f"cts !ust $e such th"t, in

the opinion of the Cur/, the nelience of the "ccused 8ent $e/ond " !ere !"tter ofco!pens"tion $et8een su$Cects "nd sho8ed such disre"rd for the life "nd s"fet/ of others

"s to "!ount to " cri!e ""inst the t"te "nd conduct deser3in punish!ent; +t isdesir"$le th"t, "s f"r "s possi$le, the epl"n"tion of cri!in"l nelience to " Cur/ should not

$e " !ere uestion of epithets; +t is, in " sense, " !"tter of deree, "nd it is for the Cur/ to

dr"8 the line;> B"te!"n ?192(@ 19 .r;pp;R; "t pp; 11, 1, 2% .o '' "t pp; ', 4& ?Lord

e8"rt .;J;@@ <he dri3er of " !otor 3ehicle !"/ $e "cco!p"nied $/ le"din "nd Cuniorcounsel "nd $/ his solicitor "s 8ell) $ut he 8ill still not kno8 8hether or not he h"s

co!!itted the offence of dri3in in " !"nner d"nerous to the pu$lic or 8ithout due c"re"nd "ttention or 8ithout re"son"$le consider"tion for others or "t "n ecessi3e speed until

Cur/ or Custices so find; "in, in cri!in"l li$el e3er/one !ust "8"it the Cur/s "dCudic"tion$efore it c"n $e "scert"ined 8hether the st"te!ent co!pl"ined of 8"s def"!"tor/ of the

prosecutor) or, if Custific"tion is ple"ded, 8hether pu$lic"tion 8"s for the pu$lic $enefit;i!il"rl/ 8ith those !"n/ offences 8hich depend on 8hether "d!itted conduct 8"s

perpetr"ted dishonestl/; "in, did the "ccused con3ene "n "sse!$l/ in such " !"nner "sto c"use re"son"$le people to fe"r " $re"ch of the pe"ceO Did the "lleed $l"ck!"iler h"3e

re"son"$le rounds for !"kin the de!"nd "nd 8"s the use of !en"ces " proper !e"ns ofreinforcin itO ? <heft ct 19% , s; 21 ;@ "s it " pu$lic !ischief th"t the "ccused conspired

to effectO Did the "ccused pu$lish *689 "n "rticle or perfor! " the"tric"l pl"/ 8hich h"d "

tendenc/ to depr"3e or corruptO +f so, 8"s its pu$lic"tion or perfor!"nce ne3ertheless on$"l"nce for the pu$lic ood $/ re"son of "n/ of the !"tters set out in section 4 of the:$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 , or section ' of the <he"tres ct 19% O +n none of these

c"ses, 8hich ""in could $e re"tl/ !ultiplied, c"n it in "d3"nce $e s"id 8ith cert"int/8hether "n offence h"s $een co!!ittedA "nd those 8ho choose, in such situ"tions, to s"il

"s close "s possi$le to the 8ind ine3it"$l/ run so!e risk;

But, in "n/ c"se, the t/pe of =uncert"int/> in3oked $/ the "ppell"nts is not th"t 8ith 8hich

the decl"r"tion of Jul/ 2, 19, 8"s concerned; <he contet 8"s the doctrine of precedent;



<he decl"r"tion 8"s, in other 8ords, concerned 8ith th"t cert"int/ 8hich co!es fro!follo8in rules of l"8 "lre"d/ Cudici"ll/ deter!ined, not 8ith "n/ such cert"int/ "s !"/

co!e fro! the "$ro"tion of those Cudici"ll/ deter!ined rules of l"8 8hich in3ol3e issues off"ct "nd deree; h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ l"id do8n 8ith cert"int/ th"t the offence of

conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls 8"s p"rt of our cri!in"l l"8; 0"rli"!ent, in the <he"tresct 19% , reconised th"t this h"d $een so est"$lished; nu!$er of persons h"3e $een

prosecuted "nd con3icted on this $"sis; +t 8"s not contended th"t the rule h"d led to "n/inCustice;

But o3er "nd "$o3e the li!it"tions constitution"ll/ i!posed $/ the ter!s "nd contet of thedecl"r"tion of Jul/ 2, 19, there "re three "ddition"l fe"tures in the inst"nt c"se 8hich

render it p"rticul"rl/ undesir"$le, in !/ respectful su$!ission, for /our Lordships to dep"rtfro! the decision in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @; +n the first pl"ce, /our Lordships "re concerned

8ith hihl/ contro3ersi"l issues, on 8hich there is e3er/ sin th"t neither pu$lic norp"rli"!ent"r/ opinion is settled; +t is " !"tter of hih de$"te ho8 f"r the l"8 should

concern itself "t "ll 8ith =!or"lit/;> <he "!$i3"lence in societ/s "ttitude to8"rdsho!oseu"lis! is sufficientl/ indic"ted $/ the pro3isions of the eu"l :ffences ct 197,

to 8hich + h"3e "lre"d/ dr"8n "ttention; Eor h"s the decision itself in h"8 3; D;0;0;? supra @ l"cked critics "nd ch"!pions; :f course, .ourts of l"8 do not shrink *690 fro!

decisions 8hich "re li"$le to $e contro3ersi"l 8hen Cudici"l dut/ de!"nds such decisions;But /our Lordships "re here in " field 8here the decisions"t "n/ r"te, polic/ decisions"re

$etter left to 0"rli"!ent, if such is possi$le; .ert"inl/, it is the sort of !"tter in 8hich it is!ost undesir"$le th"t there should $e, in effect, "n "ppe"l fro! one ppell"te .o!!ittee of

/our Lordships ouse to "nother; +n def"ult of "n/ decision $/ 0"rli"!ent to re3erse the Cud!ent in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ the deter!in"tion in p"rticul"r c"ses is in the h"nds of

th"t !icrocos! of de!ocr"tic societ/, the Cur/;

second p"rticul"r re"son 8h/ this is, o3er "nd "$o3e constitution"l con3ention, in !/3ie8, "n unsuit"$le issue for the eercise of /our Lordships l"8-!"kin po8ers is th"t there

h"3e $een se3er"l occ"sions 8hen 0"rli"!ent itself h"d the opportunit/, h"d it 8ished to

"3"il itself of it, to "$ro"te the decision in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @the :$scene

0u$lic"tions ct 194 ?8hen 0"rli"!ent inste"d "ccepted the reiter"tion of the li!itedundert"kin on $eh"lf of the .ro8n to 8hich !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend on the ools"ckh"s referred@, the eu"l :ffences ct 197 "nd the .ri!in"l L"8 ct 197; s !/ no$le

"nd le"rned friend, Lord Reid, s"id in h"8 3; D;0;0; ?"t pp; 1(% "nd 27( of the respecti3ereports@A =here 0"rli"!ent fe"rs to tre"d it is not for the .ourts to rush in;>

<hirdl/, 3irtu"ll/ "ll the o$Cections 8hich h"3e $een "d3"nced ""inst the offence ofconspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls "re eu"ll/ "pplic"$le to the offence of conspir"c/ to

effect " pu$lic !ischief; <he t8o offences !"/, indeed, $oth $e su$-cl"sses of " !oreener"l cl"ss, or conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls !"/ $e " species of the enus

conspir"c/ to effect " pu$lic !ischief; ?<his "ppe"rs to h"3e $een the 3ie8 of Lord <uckerin Sha 3; D.P.P; ?see pp; 19 "nd 2%(@, 8ith 8hose speech the rest of the !"Corit/

"reed@; +t 8ould h"rdl/ $e possi$le to reconsider Sha 3; D.P.P; ? supra @ 8ithout "lsoreconsiderin the offence of conspir"c/ to effect " pu$lic !ischief;

speci"l "spect of the rule of precedent in /our Lordships ouse "rises on the po8erful

"ru!ent on $eh"lf of the "ppell"nts $"sed on section 2 ?4@ of the :$scene0u$lic"tions *691 ct 19(9; <he construction "nd "pplic"$ilit/ of this su$section 8"s "

!"tter of direct decision in Sha 3; D.P.P; ? supra @) "nd, since it 8"s " !"tter of st"tutor/

interpret"tion, the 3ie8s of the !"Corit/ in Jones 3; ecret"r/ of t"te for oci"l er3ices



? supra @ constitute " further re"son for not dep"rtin fro! the decision in Sha 3; D.P.P;so f"r "s this point is concerned;

+t follo8s, in !/ 3ie8, th"t /our Lordships should follo8 Sha 3; D.P.P; ? supra @ on the

!"tter "s to 8hich it constituted " direct "uthorit/n"!el/, th"t the offence of conspir"c/to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls is p"rt of the cri!in"l l"8 of 6nl"nd; But there "re cert"in other

!"tters 8hich either "ppe"r in th"t c"se "s obiter dicta or 8hich h"3e $een "scri$ed to thedecision ?in !/ 3ie8, unnecess"ril/ "nd 8ronl/@ to 8hich + 8ould 8ish to refer; Hirst, there"re so!e epressions in the !"Corit/ speeches 8hich indic"te th"t not onl/ 8"s the offence

of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls est"$lished "s " !"tter of continuous le"l histor/ in6nlish l"8, $ut "lso th"t it 8"s desir"$le th"t this should $e so; + do not think th"t those

epressions of 3ie8 8ere necess"r/ for the decision; lthouh .ourts of l"8 "re so!eti!esf"ced 8ith !"kin polic/ decisions ?in the sense th"t there is so!eti!es " choice to $e

!"de $et8een t8o ten"$le 3ie8s of the l"8@, + h"3e "lre"d/ indic"ted th"t + think th"t inthe inst"nt field the/ should if possi$le $e "3oided "nd r"ther left to 0"rli"!ent; econdl/,

there "re so!e suestions in the speeches in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ th"t the .ourts h"3estill so!e role to pl"/ in the 8"/ of ener"l superintendence of !or"ls; <his 8"s " phr"se

used in 3"rious eihteenth "nd nineteenth centur/ c"ses, =superintendence of> !e"nin =Curisdiction o3er;> h"te3er !"/ h"3e $een the position in the eihteenth centur/"nd

there is !ore th"n one cle"r indic"tion th"t the .ourts of co!!on l"8 then "ssu!ed th"tthe/ 8ere fitted for "nd $ound to eercise such " role+ do not !/self $elie3e th"t such is

"n/ p"rt of their present function; s 8ill "ppe"r, + do not think th"t =conspir"c/ to corruptpu$lic !or"ls> in3ites " ener"l t"nlin 8ith codes of !or"lit/; <hirdl/, in this connection, it

h"s $een suested th"t the speeches in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ indic"ted th"t the .ourtsret"in " residu"l po8er to cre"te ne8 offences; + *692 do not think the/ did so; .ert"inl/, it

is !/ 3ie8 th"t the .ourts h"3e no !ore po8er to cre"te ne8 offences th"n the/ h"3e to"$olish those "lre"d/ est"$lished in the l"8) $oth t"sks "re for 0"rli"!ent; h"t the .ourts

c"n "nd should do ?"s 8"s trul/ l"id do8n in Sha 3; D.P.P; ? supra @@ is to reconise the"pplic"$ilit/ of est"$lished offences to ne8 circu!st"nces to 8hich the/ "re rele3"nt;

Hourthl/, + h"3e "lre"d/ indic"ted !/ 3ie8 th"t Sha 3; D.P.P; ? supra @ is not "uthorit/ for

the proposition th"t !"le ho!oseu"lis!, or e3en its f"cilit"tion or encour"e!ent, is itself

"s " !"tter of l"8 corruptin of pu$lic !or"ls; +t is for the Cur/ to decide "s " !"tter of f"ct8hether the conduct "lleed to $e the su$Cect-!"tter of the conspir"c/ ch"red is in "n/

p"rticul"r c"se corruptin of pu$lic !or"ls; L"stl/, it 8"s suested in "ru!ent $efore /ourLordships th"t, if Sha 3; D.P.P; ? supra @ 8ere not o3erruled, it 8ould $e open to Curies to

con3ict if the/ thouht th"t the conduct in uestion 8"s li"$le to =le"d !or"ll/ "str"/;> But"ll th"t 8"s decided in Sha 3;D.P.P; ? supra @ 8"s th"t, in the ener"l contet of the

8hole of the su!!in-up in th"t c"se, the use of the phr"se =le"ds !or"ll/ "str"/> 8"s not" !isdirection; Sha 3; D.P.P; ? supra @ !ust not $e t"ken "s "n "uthorit/ th"t =corrupt

pu$lic !or"ls> "nd =le"d !or"ll/ "str"/> "re interch"ne"$le epressions; :n the contr"r/, =corrupt> is " stron 8ord; <he $ook of .o!!on 0r"/er, follo8in the Gospel, h"s = 8here

rust "nd !oth doth corrupt;> <he 8ords =corrupt pu$lic !or"ls> suest conduct 8hich " Cur/ !iht find to $e destructi3e of the 3er/ f"$ric of societ/;

"3in scrutinised the su!!in-up in the inst"nt c"se in the liht of the foreoinreser3"tions, in !/ 3ie8 there 8"s no !isdirection) the con3iction on count 1 !ust $e

upheld) "nd the "ppe"l on this p"rt of the c"se dis!issed;

Count + A Conspirac$ to outrage public decenc$ ; <his count, on 8hich the "ppell"nts 8ere

"lso con3icted, re"ds "s follo8s in the indict!entA =t"te!ent of offenceA .onspir"c/ to

outr"e pu$lic decenc/; 0"rticul"rs of offenceA #nuller ?0u$lishin, 0rintin "nd 0ro!otions@Ltd;, D"3id "ll, 0eter t"nsill "nd Gr"h"! #een $et8een the 1st d"/ of J"nu"r/ "nd the



'&th d"/ *693 of M"/ 199 8ithin the Curisdiction of the .entr"l .ri!in"l .ourt, conspiredtoether "nd 8ith persons insertin le8d, disustin "nd offensi3e "d3ertise!ents in issues

of " !""5ine entitled +<N under the he"din ML6,N "nd 8ith other persons unkno8n, $/!e"ns of the pu$lic"tion of the s"id !""5ine cont"inin the s"id "d3ertise!ents to outr"e

pu$lic decenc/;> ntil " 3er/ l"te st"e of the "ru!ent $efore /our Lordships counsel forthe "ppell"nts "ccepted ?conson"ntl/, 8ith his rounds of "ppe"l to the .ourt of ppe"l@

th"t conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/ 8"s "n offence "t co!!on l"8; e "rued,ho8e3er, th"t it 8"s not "pplic"$le to the present c"se for three re"sonsA first, the offenceh"d ne3er /et $een "pplied to " ne8sp"per or $ook, "nd it 8"s undesir"$le th"t it should $e

no8) secondl/, section 2 ?4@ of the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 ecludes it) "nd, thirdl/,

the necess"r/ =pu$lic> ele!ent in the offence is !issin, since the "d3ertise!entsco!pl"ined of 8ere tucked "8"/ fro! pu$lic 3ie8 in the !iddle of the ne8sp"per; But "t "

l"te st"e in his repl/ counsel "ccepted the suestion th"t there 8"s no such offencekno8n to the co!!on l"8) there 8ere !erel/ cert"in specific offences 3iol"tin pu$lic

decenc/ 8hich 8ere not "pplic"tions of "n/ !ore ener"l cl"ssn"!el/, keepin "disorderl/ ouse, !ountin "n indecent ehi$ition "nd indecent eposure; p"rt fro! his

"ru!ents on l"8, counsel "rued th"t the Cur/ 8"s insufficientl/ directed "s to thenecess"r/ ele!ent of pu$licit/, "nd th"t the .ourt of ppe"l 8"s 8ron in holdin th"t the

f"cts pro3ed est"$lished sufficient pu$licit/ to constitute the offence;

<he follo8in uestions, therefore, "rise on this p"rt of the c"seA ?1@ is there " ener"l

co!!on l"8 offence of outr"in pu$lic decenc/, or onl/ the p"rticul"r offences 8hich thec"ses est"$lishO) ?2@ is there " co!!on l"8 offence of conspirin to outr"e pu$lic

decenc/O) ?'@ if ?1@ or ?2@ "re "ns8ered in the "ffir!"ti3e, "re the/ in"pplic"$le tone8sp"pers or $ooks either ?"@ $ec"use the/ h"3e ne3er $een so "pplied, or ?$@ $ec"use of

section 2 ?4@ of the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 O) ?4@ if ?1@ or ?2@ "re "ns8ered in the"ffir!"ti3e, 8h"t "re the reuire!ents of the l"8 "s to pu$licit/ in order for the offence?s@

to $e est"$lishedO*694 +n p"rticul"r, is there sufficient pu$licit/ if either ?"@ the o$Cect inuestion is not seen si!ult"neousl/ $/ !ore th"n one person, $ut onl/ $/ one "t " ti!e, or

?$@ it is on the inside of " ne8sp"per or $ookO) ?(@ do "n/ other inredients of the

offence?s@ ?if the/ eist@ need e!ph"sisO) ?@ 8"s the direction to the Cur/ on this p"rt of

the c"se !isle"din or in"deu"teO

?1@ +t is, in ener"l, the difference $et8een !"ture "nd rudi!ent"r/ le"l s/ste!s th"t the

l"tter de"l specific"ll/ 8ith " nu!$er of p"rticul"r "nd unrel"ted inst"nces, 8here"s thefor!er e!$od/ the l"8 in co!prehensi3e, cohesi3e "nd r"tion"l ener"l rules; <he l"8 is

then e"sier to underst"nd "nd co!!"nds " re"ter respect; Hr"!ent"tion, on the otherh"nd, le"ds to "no!"lous ?"nd therefore ineuit"$le@ distinctions "nd to hedin le"l rules

round 8ith technic"lities th"t "re onl/ 8ithin the underst"ndin of "n esoteric cl"ss; <heener"l de3elop!ent of 6nlish l"8 ?like th"t of other !"ture s/ste!s@ h"s $een to8"rds

the co-ordin"tion of p"rticul"r inst"nces into co!prehensi3e "nd co!prehensi$le ener"lrules; <he e3olution of the co!pendious tort of nelience fro! " nu!$er of disp"r"te

for!s of "ction is " 8ell-kno8n e"!ple fro! the co!!on l"8A the <heft ct 19% !"/ $ere"rded "s " st"tutor/ counterp"rt; ?+ !ust, ho8e3er, "dd the rider th"t 6nlish l"8 h"s

ne3er felt $ound to c"rr/ e3er/ rule to its loic"l conclusion in the f"ce of con3enience@; Butthe co!!on l"8 proceeds ener"ll/ $/ distillin fro! " p"rticul"r c"se the le"l principle on

8hich it is decided, "nd th"t le"l principle is then ener"ll/ "pplied to the circu!st"nces ofother c"ses to 8hich the principle is rele3"nt "s the/ "rise $efore the .ourts; s 0"rke B;

s"id, i3in the "d3ice of the Cudes to /our Lordships ouse on Mirehouse 3; Rennell?1%''@ 1 .l; Q H; (27 "t p; (4 ?cited 8ith "ppro3"l in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ $/ Lord

<ucker ?pp; 174 "nd 2%9@, Kiscount i!onds ?pp; 141 "nd 21@ "nd Lord Morris of Borth-/-Gest ?pp; 17% "nd 291@ concurrin, "nd $/ Lord odson ?pp; 17% "nd 292P29'@@A =:ur

co!!on l"8 s/ste! consists in the "ppl/in to ne8 co!$in"tions of circu!st"nces those



rules of l"8 8hich 8e deri3e fro! le"l principles "nd Cudici"l precedents) "nd for the s"keof "tt"inin unifor!it/, consistenc/ "nd cert"int/, 8e !ust "ppl/ *695 those rules, 8here

the/ "re not pl"inl/ unre"son"$le or incon3enient, to "ll c"ses 8hich "rise) "nd 8e "re not"t li$ert/ to reCect the!, "nd to "$"ndon "ll "n"lo/ to the!, in those to 8hich the/ h"3e

not /et $een Cudici"ll/ "pplied, $ec"use 8e think th"t the rules "re not "s con3enient "ndre"son"$le "s 8e oursel3es could h"3e de3ised;>

econdl/, the decided c"ses look odd st"ndin on their o8n; +ndecent eposure ? .runden?1%&9@ 2 ."!p; %9 @, "cts of seu"l indecenc/ in pu$lic ? M"/lin ?19'@ 47 .r;pp;R; 1&')

*19' 2 I;B; 717 @, indecent 8ords ? "unders ?1%7(@ 1 I;B;D; 1( @, disinterrin " corpse? L/nn ?17%%@ 2 Durn; Q 6; 7'' @, sellin " 8ife ?cited in Del"3"l ?17'@ ' Burr; 14'4 , "t p;

14'%@, ehi$itin defor!ed children ? errin 3; "lrond ?1%2@ 2 .t;."s; 11&@, ehi$itin "picture of sores ? Gre/ ?1%4@ H; Q H; 7' @, procurin " irl "pprentice to $e t"ken out of the

custod/ of her !"ster for the purpose of prostitution ? Del"3"l ? supra @A see "lso count 4 ino8ell "nd Bentle/ ?1%4@ 7 H; Q H; 1& , 11 conspir"c/ to procure " irl of se3enteen to

$eco!e " co!!on prostitute@"ll these h"3e $een held to $e offences; <he/ h"3e "co!!on ele!ent in th"t, in e"ch, offence ""inst pu$lic decenc/ 8"s "lleed to $e "n

inredient of the cri!e ?ecept Gre/ ? supra @, 8here it 8"s s"id to $e =disustin "ndoffensi3e,> =so disustin th"t it is c"lcul"ted to turn the sto!"ch>@) $ut other8ise the/ "re

8idel/ disp"r"te) this suests th"t the/ "re p"rticul"r "pplic"tions of " ener"l rule8here$/ conduct 8hich outr"es pu$lic decenc/ is " co!!on l"8 offence; 63en keepin "

disorderl/ ouse c"n $e considered " !"nifest"tion of conduct 8hich outr"es pu$licdecenc/; ?<he "ltern"ti3e is to re"rd "ll "s !"nifest"tions of pu$lic nuis"nce;@

<hirdl/, in Del"3"l ?the c"se of the fe!"le "pprentice@ the .ourt proceeded on the $"sis th"tidle/ ?1'@ sub no". ir .h"rles idle/, 1 id; 1% ?8here the "ccused stood n"ked on "

$"lcon/ "nd urin"ted on the cro8d $elo8@ "nd .url ?1727@ 2 tr; 7%% ?o$scene "nd indecent

li$el@ 8ere precedents ?the/ h"d $oth =$een uilt/ of offences ""inst ood !"nners> ?p;14'9@@A this stronl/ suests " ener"l cl"ss e!$r"cin "ll three decisions, r"ther th"n "

nu!$er of isol"ted inst"nces;

*696

Hourthl/, !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend, Lord Morris of Borth-/-Gest, in h"8 3; D;0;0;

? supra @ 8here, thouh there 8"s no count of conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/, !ost of the c"ses 8ere re3ie8ed, s"id ?pp; 177 "nd 292@A =<he c"ses "fford e"!ples of the

conduct of indi3idu"ls 8hich h"s $een punished $ec"use it outr"ed pu$lic decenc/;> nd!/ no$le "nd le"rned friend, Lord Reid, thouh dissentin on the !"in issue, s"id ?pp; 14

"nd 2%1@A =+ think th"t the/ *the "uthorities est"$lish th"t it is "n indict"$le offence to s"/or do or ehi$it "n/thin in pu$lic 8hich outr"es pu$lic decenc/, 8hether or not it "lso

tends to corrupt "nd depr"3e those 8ho see or he"r it;>

Hifthl/, in M"/lin ? supra @ the offence ch"red in the indict!ent 8"s =co!!ittin "n "ct

outr"in pu$lic decenc/> ?pp; 1&4 "nd 72'@; +t 8"s co!!on round there, "nd epressl/held $/ the .ourt ?"t pp; 1&( "nd 724@, th"t this 8"s "n offence "t co!!on l"8;

+ 8ould "dd, l"stl/, th"t, su$Cect to the riders to 8hich + refer l"ter, it does not see! to !eto $e eor$it"nt to de!"nd of the l"8 th"t re"son"$le people should $e "$le to 3enture into

pu$lic 8ithout their sense of decenc/ $ein outr"ed; + think th"t the "uthorities est"$lish "co!!on l"8 offence of conduct 8hich outr"es pu$lic decenc/;













?2@ +f there is " co!!on l"8 offence of conduct 8hich outr"es pu$lic decenc/, " conspir"c/to outr"e pu$lic decenc/ is "lso " co!!on l"8 offence, "s "n "ree!ent to do "n ille"l

"ct; +n h"8 3; D;0;0; Kiscount i!onds ?pp; 14% "nd 27@ see!s to h"3e considered th"tthe conduct there in uestion 8"s indict"$le "lso "s " conspir"c/ =to "ffront pu$lic decenc/;>

+n !/ 3ie8, counsel for the "ppell"nts 8"s riht to concede th"t there is " co!!on l"8offence of conspirin to outr"e pu$lic decenc/;

?'@ s for 8hether such "n offence is "pplic"$le to $ooks "nd ne8sp"pers, the "ru!ent$"sed on section 2 ?4@ of the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 is concluded ""inst the

"ppell"nts $/ the construction put upon th"t su$section in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra@; <hep"ss"e + h"3e cited fro! Mirehouse 3; Rennell ? supra @ indic"tes th"t the f"ct th"t the

"uthorities sho8 no e"!ple of the "pplic"tion of the rule of l"8 in circu!st"ncessuch *697 "s the inst"nt does not !e"n th"t it is not "pplic"$le, pro3ided th"t there "re

circu!st"nces, ho8e3er no3el, 8hich f"ll f"irl/ 8ithin the rule; .ounsel for the "ppell"ntscould not suest "n/ de!"rc"tion in principle; <o "tte!pt deli!it"tion 8ould produce

"$surd "no!"lies; <he ne8sp"per pl"c"rd 8ould presu!"$l/ f"ll 8ithin the offenceA it 8ould$e odd if si!il"r !"teri"l on the eposed front p"e of the ne8sp"per did not do so;

picture fl/-posted in " s!"ll 3ill"e 8ould f"ll 8ithin the offence) $ut, on the "ru!ent forthe "ppell"nts, not the s"!e picture cont"ined in " ne8sp"per or $ook of !"ss circul"tion;

"feu"rds "re to $e found in the reuire!ent of pu$licit/ for the offence to $e est"$lished,"nd in the p"rli"!ent"r/ undert"kin to 8hich !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend on the ools"ck

h"s referredthis !ust $e t"ken to "ppl/ to conspir"c/ to outr"e pu$lic decenc/ "s !uch"s to conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls;

?4@ + turn, then, to the reuire!ent of pu$licit/; M"/lin ? supra @ sho8s th"t thesu$st"nti3e offence ?"nd therefore the conduct the su$Cect of the conspir"c/@ !ust $e

co!!itted in pu$lic, in the sense th"t the circu!st"nces !ust $e such th"t the "lleed

outr"eousl/ indecent !"tter could h"3e $een seen $/ !ore th"n one person, e3en thouhin f"ct no !ore th"n one did see it; +f it is c"p"$le of $ein seen $/ one person onl/, no

offence is co!!itted;

+t 8"s "t one ti!e "rued for the "ppell"nts th"t the !"tter !ust h"3e $een 3isi$le to t8oor !ore people si!ult"neousl/) "nd th"t "n "rticle in " ne8sp"per did not fulfil this

reuire!ent; But this point 8"s rihtl/ "$"ndoned, "nd + need not e"!ine it further;

+t 8"s "rued for the .ro8n th"t it 8"s i!!"teri"l 8hether or not the "lleed outr"e to

decenc/ took pl"ce in pu$lic, pro3ided th"t the sense of decenc/ of the pu$lic or "su$st"nti"l section of the pu$lic 8"s outr"ed; But this see!s to !e to $e contr"r/ to !"n/

of the "uthorities 8hich the .ro8n itself relied on to est"$lish the eneric offence; <he"uthorities est"$lish th"t the 8ord =pu$lic> h"s " different connot"tion in the respecti3e

offences of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls "nd *698 conduct c"lcul"ted to, orconspir"c/ to, outr"e pu$lic decenc/; +n the first it refers to cert"in fund"!ent"l rules

re"rded "s essenti"l soci"l control 8hich /et l"ck the force of l"8A 8hen "pplic"$le to

indi3idu"ls in other 8ords =pu$lic> refers to persons in societ/; +n the l"tter offences,ho8e3er, =pu$lic> refers to the pl"ce in 8hich the offence is co!!itted; <his is $orne out $/the 8"/ the rule 8"s fr"!ed $/ !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend, Lord Reid, in h"8 3; D;0;0;

? supra @ in the p"ss"e 8hich + h"3e Cust cited; +t is "lso $orne out $/ 8h"t is presu!"$l/

the purpose of the le"l rulen"!el/, th"t re"son"$le people !"/ 3enture out in pu$lic8ithout the risk of outr"e to cert"in !ini!u! "ccepted st"nd"rds of decenc/;

:n the other h"nd, + do not think th"t it 8ould necess"ril/ ne"ti3e the offence th"t the "ct

or ehi$it is superfici"ll/ hid fro! 3ie8, if the pu$lic epressl/ or i!pliedl/ in3ited to



penetr"te the co3er; <hus, the pu$lic toutin for "n outr"eousl/ indecent ehi$ition inpri3"te 8ould not esc"peA see "unders ? supra @; nother o$3ious e"!ple is "n

outr"eousl/ indecent ehi$it 8ith " co3er entitled =Lift in order to see;> <his sort ofinst"nce could $e "pplied to " $ook or ne8sp"per) "nd + think th"t " Cur/ should $e in3ited

to consider the !"tter in this 8"/; <he conduct !ust "t le"st in so!e 8"/ $e so proCected"s to h"3e "n i!p"ct in pu$licA c'. !ith 3; uhes *19& 2 ll 6;R; %(9 ;

?(@ <here "re other fe"tures of the offence 8hich should, in !/ 3ie8, $e $rouht to thenotice of the Cur/; +t should $e e!ph"sised th"t =outr"e,> like =corrupt,> is " 3er/ stron

8ord; =:utr"in pu$lic decenc/> oes consider"$l/ $e/ond offendin the suscepti$ilities of,or e3en shockin, re"son"$le people; Moreo3er the offence is, in !/ 3ie8, concerned 8ith

reconised !ini!u! st"nd"rds of decenc/, 8hich "re likel/ to 3"r/ fro! ti!e to ti!e;Hin"ll/, not8ithst"ndin th"t =pu$lic> in the offence is used in " loc"tion sense, pu$lic

decenc/ !ust $e 3ie8ed "s " 8hole) "nd + think the Cur/ should $e in3ited, 8here"ppropri"te, to re!e!$er th"t the/ li3e in " plur"l societ/, 8ith " tr"dition of toler"nce

to8"rds !inorities, "nd th"t this "t!osphere of toler"tion is itself p"rt of pu$lic decenc/;

*699

?@ <he .ourt of ppe"l s"id of the direction on count 2 th"t it !iht $e th"t it 8"s not8holl/ s"tisf"ctor/; + 8ould !/self o further; + re"rd it "s essenti"l th"t the Cur/ should $e

c"refull/ directed, on the lines th"t + h"3e 3entured to suest, on the proper "ppro"ch to

the !e"nin of =decenc/> "nd =outr"e> "nd the ele!ent of pu$licit/ reuired to constitutethe offence; <he su!!in-up 8"s ener"ll/ " c"reful "nd f"ir one, $ut + think it 8"s

defecti3e in these re"rds) "nd + therefore do not think it 8ould $e s"fe to "llo8 thecon3iction on count 2 to st"nd;

Lord #il$r"ndonA

M/ Lords, + h"3e h"d the "d3"nt"e of re"din in "d3"nce the speech prep"red $/ !/ no$le"nd le"rned friend, Lord i!on of Gl"isd"le, "nd since + find !/self in "ree!ent 8ith it +

8ould "3oid repe"tin in det"il in !/ o8n 8ords the conclusions "t 8hich he h"s "rri3ed;

:n the first ch"re it h"s $een conceded th"t this c"se is indistinuish"$le fro! th"t of

h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ in this sense, th"t the "ppe"l could not succeed unless the ouse8ere to hold $oth th"t th"t c"se 8"s 8ronl/ decided, "nd "lso th"t it is proper for this

ouse, under the direction of 19, to o3errule it; ince, in !/ opinion, the first of thesepropositions h"s not $een !"de out, + do not need to de"l 8ith the second;

h"8 8"s con3icted of conspirin, 8ith persons 8ho procured the insertion of"d3ertise!ents in his p"per =<he L"dies Director/,> to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls, in the

p"rticul"rs set out in the ch"re; +t 8"s held inter alia $/ the Lord .hief Justice of 6nl"nd,tre"tfeild J;, sh8orth J;, "nd $/ four of the fi3e no$le Lords 8ho he"rd the "ppe"l in this

ouse th"t " conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls is " co!!on l"8 !isde!e"nour; +t is thisdecision 8hich, for the present "ppe"l to succeed, !ust $e set "side;

M/ Lords, it 8ould in "n/ e3ent $e " stron step indeed to hold th"t " pronounce!ent onprinciple in " cri!in"l !"tter !"de so recentl/ "nd so "uthorit"ti3el/ 8"s 8ron, $ut for !/

p"rt + 8ould find such " course i!possi$le to conte!pl"te in 3ie8 of "n e3en !ore recentct of the Leisl"ture; B/ the <he"tres ct 19%, s; 2 ?4@ it is pro3ided th"tA =Eo person

sh"ll *700 $e proceeded ""inst for "n offence "t co!!on l"8 of conspirin to corruptpu$lic !or"ls in respect of "n "ree!ent to present or i3e " perfor!"nce of " pl"/;> +





do not see ho8 0"rli"!ent could h"3e used this phr"se ecept $/ 8"/ of reconition th"tconspirin to corrupt pu$lic !or"ls 8"s "t th"t ti!e " cri!e, "nd of pro3ision th"t in cert"in

circu!st"nces ch"res of h"3in co!!itted th"t cri!e 8ere not to $e proceeded 8ith;Eothin h"s h"ppened since 19% to "lter the l"8 in this respect) it is "ccordinl/, in !/

opinion, i!possi$le to s"/ "s " !"tter of l"8 th"t the cri!e to 8hich 0"rli"!ent so recentl/referred is non-eistent;

Most of the criticis!, so!e of it se3ere, 8hich h"s $een le3elled "t the c"se of h"8 3;D;0;0; ? supra @ h"s $een occ"sioned $/ cert"in obiter dicta , in p"rticul"r of Kiscount

i!onds, fro! the purport of 8hich !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend, Lord Reid, stronl/dissented in his speech; Kiscount i!onds decl"red ?"t p; 27@ th"t =there re!"ins in the

.ourts of l"8 " residu"l po8er to enforce the supre!e "nd fund"!ent"l purpose of the l"8,to conser3e not onl/ the s"fet/ "nd order $ut "lso the !or"l 8elf"re of the t"te,> "nd ""in

"t p; 2% referred to " p"ss"e in 8hich Lord M"nsfield h"d descri$ed the .ourt of #insBench "s custos "oru" of the people, h"3in the superintendin of offences contra bonos

"ores , "nd "sserted, ="s + no8 "ssert, th"t there is in th"t .ourt " residu"l po8er tosuperintend those offences 8hich "re preCudici"l to the pu$lic 8elf"re;> +n 3ie8 of the

e!ph"tic discl"i!er, !"de $/ Kiscount i!onds e"rlier in his speech, of "n/ po8er in the Cudes to cre"te ne8 cri!in"l offences, it see!s "t le"st pro$"$le th"t in these dict" the

no$le Lord 8"s intendin to i3e "n "ccount of ho8 the cri!e of conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic!or"ls first c"!e to $e reconised, r"ther th"n to oriin"te " cri!e in order th"t the

"ppell"nts cle"rl/ i!!or"l conduct !iht $e punished; .ert"inl/ if " conte!por"r/"uthorit/ 8ere cl"i!ed for the Cudes to superintend hu!"n conduct "nd to decl"re cri!in"l

such inst"nces "s the/ re"rded "s ini!ic"l to the !or"l 8elf"re of the t"te, + 8ould $e"!on those 8ho 8ould den/ it; But the present "ppe"l is not "ffected $/ the repudi"tion of

such erroneous doctrine;

*701

+ h"3e de"lt 8ith this p"rt of the c"se on " n"rro8 front, not onl/ $ec"use it h"s $een !ore8idel/ "nd c"refull/ considered $/ the no$le Lords 8ho preceded !e, $ut "lso $ec"use +

think th"t "s f"r "s possi$le it is epedient so to do; + suppose th"t e3er/ citi5en 8ho t"kes"n interest in the kind of societ/ in 8hich he li3es is $ound to for! 3ie8s "$out, for

e"!ple, 8h"t should $e the li!its of the controls per!itted to $e put $/ the t"te on thosethins to 8hich " !"n !"/ l"8full/ epose his neih$ours; But the "uthorit/ to decide such

uestions, "nd the foru! 8here the/ !ust $e discussed, is e!ph"tic"ll/ not the .ourts of Custice, $ut the leisl"ture; "in + h"3e profited $/ the "d3"nt"e of seein in print the

speech of !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend, Lord Diplock; Much of 8h"t he h"s to s"/ "$out thel"8 of conspir"c/ is $ound to $e "ttr"cti3e to one 8ho is not tr"ined to " f"!ili"rit/ 8ith the

su$Cect; But the situ"tion "s re"rds conspir"c/ is the s"!e "s th"t of corruptin pu$lic!or"ls) $oth for! p"rt of the cri!in"l l"8, "nd it 8ould $e "s i!proper to "tte!pt to

ch"ne the one $/ " Cudici"l decision "s it 8ould $e the other; <he 3er/ repro"ch 8hich 8"s,$/ so!e, le3elled "t the decision in h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @ 8ould $e he"rd ""in, thouh

perh"ps fro! different 3oices;

<he onl/ other !"tter to 8hich + desire speci"ll/ to refer is the concession i3en $/ one of

the L"8 :fficers in the ouse of .o!!ons, to the effect th"t " conspir"c/ to corrupt pu$lic

!or"ls 8ould not $e ch"red so "s to circu!3ent the st"tutor/ defence of pu$lic ood !"de"3"il"$le $/ section 4 of the :$scene 0u$lic"tions ct 19(9 to " person ch"red 8ith

pu$lishin "n "rticle 8hich tends to depr"3e "nd corrupt persons 8ho "re likel/ to re"d, see

or he"r it; + think th"t in this "ppe"l 8e "re in " reion necess"ril/ un"ffected $/ theconcession; e "re not here concerned pri!"ril/ 8ith "n o$scene pu$lic"tion) the corruptin



"nd depr"3in 8hich "re here "lleed do not "rise fro! the "rticles the!sel3es; <he/ "risefro! the 8hole "pp"r"tus of li"ison or"nised $/ the "ppell"nts; <he su$Cect-!"tter of the

conspir"c/ 8"s not the production of " piece of pornor"ph/; +t 8"s the introduction of!"les to one "nother for seu"l r"tific"tion; +n " fe8 inst"nces this 8"s to $e in the

confessed *702 rel"tionship of prostitute "nd client) in " 3er/ l"re nu!$er of c"ses indeedthe e!ph"sis is on the reuire!ent $/ the "d3ertiser of /outh in his p"rtner, "nd in !"n/

c"ses "lso of ineperience; hen one of the "ccused "d!ittedor perh"ps $o"stedin the8itness-$o th"t his pu$lic"tion 8"s re"d $/ so!e 1&,&&& school$o/s, it could onl/ $e so!eperson utterl/ inor"nt of the 8orld of "dolescence 8ho 8ould f"il to "ppreci"te the

ine3it"$le conseuences; <hese, not the pu$lic"tion of the "rticle, constituted the corruption

"nd the depr"3it/;

re"rds the second ch"re, the rele3"nce of " ch"re of outr"in pu$lic decenc/ $/ "

pu$lic in3it"tion to indule in seu"l per3ersion "ppe"rs to $e supported $/ "ll the speechesin h"8 3; D;0;0; ? supra @; But + "ree 8ith !/ no$le "nd le"rned friend, Lord i!on of

Gl"isd"le, 8ithout el"$or"tin his re"sons, th"t the su!!in-up 8"s on the 8hole defecti3ein the respects 8hich he h"s set out, "nd th"t it 8ould $e s"fer to set "side the con3iction

on the second ch"re;

+ 8ould dis!iss the "ppe"l "s re"rds the first ch"re, "llo8 it "s re"rds the second;

'e&resentation

• olicitorsA eifert, edle/ Q .o; , for the "ppell"nts;

.on3iction on first count "ffir!ed; .on3iction on second count u"shed;

T 2&14 8eet Q M"8ell

knuller v dpp case

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