Police say it could take some time for the results of an investigation into whether a photograph removed from an exhibition ? reportedly owned by Sir Elton John ? breached child pornography laws.
A Northumbria Police source today indicated to Amateur Photographer magazine that the case is a ?slow burner?.
Yesterday, a Northumbria Police spokesman said the force is investigating the circumstances surrounding the photograph in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.
The offending image is believed to be from a series of Photographs by Nan Goldin – plucked from the private collection of Sir Elton John.
It is understood to depict two naked young girls.
Meanwhile, the music legend is reported to have defended the photo, which was seized by police on 20 September – a day before the exhibition was due to be opened to the public at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear.
Media reports quote a statement published on Elton John’s website two days ago saying.
‘The photograph entitled ‘Klara and Edda belly-dancing’ (1998) is one of 149 images comprising the Thanksgiving installation by renowned US photographer Nan Goldin.
‘The photograph exists as part of the installation as a whole and has been widely published and exhibited throughout the world.?
Yesterday the gallery refused to confirm whether the picture in question belongs to Sir Elton John, as widely reported.
Last month bosses told us that some of the pictures from the Nan Goldin exhibition had never been seen in public before.
See here for our news report last month on the Elton John Photo Collection
