Supporting the Spanner Trust

Since the infamous Spanner trials of the earlier 1990s it has been illegal in England and Wales for consenting adults to engage in sexual activities which cause injuries which are more than transient or trifling. So SM sex which causes cuts or lasting bruises or marks could land both the giver and the receiver in jail.

The Spanner Trust is working to change this. It has attempted to do so by taking every opportunity to change the law through parliament but without success. It is now planning to take the UK government to court, arguing that the law breaches the human rights of SM practitioners by denying them the right to a private life and freedom of expression.

The need to do this has become even more urgent given the recent criminalisation of possession of extreme pornography. One of the defences available is that the images portray consenting activities. However, as the law currently stands, you cannot currently legally consent to many of the injuries caused during SM sex.

So the Spanner Trust more than ever needs help with money and volunteers experienced in fund raising, lobbying and legal work as well as SM practitioners willing to go public and join our court challenge.