There is further news today on the threat by the West Midlands police
against the Library of the University of Central England in Birmingham and
the publishers Jonathan Cape/Random House over the book on Robert
Mapplethorpe's photography.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (head of the national Crown Prosecution
Service) is reported to have "advised" the police that they have grounds
both to ask the University Library to destroy their copy of the
Mapplethorpe book and to "instruct" Cape/Random House to pulp all remaining
copies.

If either or both refuse then both the organisations and individual
officials of these face criminal prosecution under the Obscene Publications
Act, [for which the penalites can include imprisonment in addition to
unlimited fines].  Despite the institutional and personal risks arising
from these serious threats, both the University and the publishers are
refusing to comply, ("The Independent", 7 March, p.18).

A number of people have mailed me individually for details of those
involved in this gross assault on academic freedom with a view to writing
letters of support or protest.

The key figures are:

University of Central England (Vice-Chancellor [= Principal]: Dr P. C.
Knight),  Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 2SU, England.

Jonathan Cape (Publishing Director: Dan Franklin): Random House, 20
Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA.

West Midlands Constabulary (Chief Constable: Mr. E. Crew): Colmore Circus,
Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NQ.