Meaning of “private” and “sexual”N.I.
53—(1) The following apply for the purposes of section 51.
(2) A photograph or film is “private” if it shows something that is not of a kind ordinarily seen in public.
(3) A photograph or film is “sexual” if—
(a)it shows all or part of an individual's exposed genitals or pubic area,
(b)it shows something that a reasonable person would consider to be sexual because of its nature, or
(c)its content, taken as a whole, is such that a reasonable person would consider it to be sexual.
(4) Subsection (5) applies in the case of—
(a)a photograph or film that consists of or includes a photographed or filmed image that has been altered in any way,
(b)a photograph or film that combines two or more photographed or filmed images, and
(c)a photograph or film that combines a photographed or filmed image with something else.
(5) The photograph or film is not private and sexual if—
(a)it does not consist of or include a photographed or filmed image that is itself private and sexual,
(b)it is only private or sexual by virtue of the alteration or combination mentioned in subsection (4), or
(c)it is only by virtue of the alteration or combination mentioned in subsection (4) that [F1the relevant individual (within the meaning of section 51)] is shown as part of, or with, whatever makes the photograph or film private and sexual.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 53(5) substituted (27.11.2023) by Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 19), ss. 6(3), 30(2); S.R. 2023/188, art. 3(a)