NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia — It is a criminal offence to sell adult films, but legal to buy and own them, according to Australian law, which is precisely why the Eros Association, Australia’s adult film body, has called for more consistent laws in regulating X-rated movies.

Australian police yesterday announced that they had effectively closed almost all adult bookstores in New South Wales’ red light district after conducting raids. Sixty police officers executed search warrants at the stores and seized more than 60,000 adult DVDs.

Eros Association President Fiona Patten pointed out the irony of police officers raiding the very adult bookstores that they buy adult movies from. Patten and her organization are calling for more even-handed laws regarding the sale and purchase of adult movies.

“There is nothing illegal in police officers buying X18+ rated films from adult shops and taking them home,” Patten told The Sydney Morning Herald. “Magistrates and even politicians are regular clients at many Sydney adult shops. However, the law sets up a dangerous and grossly unfair situation in criminalizing only one side of the transaction, which penalizes the shop owner and no one else. It takes two to tango.”

Police Superintendent Jenny Hayes announced that six men were charged with selling X-rated and unclassified material as a result of the raids, which came after a six-month investigation into the shops.

“We allege almost all the business conducted in these adult bookshops is illegal and we have effectively shut them down,” Hayes said.