Editing The Ministry of Public Decency

{{Character
|location = [[London]]
|notable_members =[[Benjamin Villein]] (former)
Heavy-Hearted Censor 
|allegiance = [[Masters of the Bazaar]]<br>[[Mr Pages]] (leader)
|relationships=|image1=Ministrylogo.png
}}
<blockquote>''"The Ministry of Public Decency confiscates all manner of wicked, unsuitable and valuable books."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Rob_the_Ministry_of_Public_Decency_0 Rob the Ministry of Public Decency, ''Fallen London'']</ref>''</blockquote>'''The Ministry of Public Decency''' is [[London]]’s primary censorship authority, operating under the command of [[Mr Pages]].  

== It's A Beautiful Thing, The Destruction Of Words ==
<blockquote>''"If your new department is to become a reality, you must convince the men from the Ministry that you don't represent a threat to order and decency. You must arrange and edit your works to prove yourself entirely harmless."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Deal_with_the_evaluators|Deal with the evaluators|Fallen London|}}</ref> </blockquote>Established shortly after the [[Fall of London]] in 1862, the Ministry was originally founded to review and censor mail arriving from the [[The Surface|Surface]].<ref name=":1" /> In its earliest days, it had only two members: Mr Pages, acting as its Minister, and the [[The Efficient Commissioner|Efficient Commissioner]],<ref name=":1">[https://maskoftherose.miraheze.org/wiki/Griz#Her_Hallowmas_Confession Griz: Her Hallowmas Confession, ''Mask of the Rose''] ''"Did you know that he tried to have our department censor and review every single piece of mail that came to us from the Surface? Every piece. Our department. Which means Mr Pages... and Me. I told him that was madness, that there was too much to do. So he did begin a new ministry entirely, the Ministry of Public Decency."''</ref> who shouldered the majority of the Ministry’s operations.<ref>[https://maskoftherose.miraheze.org/wiki/Griz#Her_Hallowmas_Confession Griz: Her Hallowmas Confession, ''Mask of the Rose''] ''"He is also the Minister of Public Decency. It does not yet have a staff. He has instructed me to take on the duties of the Ministry of Public Decency as well."''</ref> Since then, it has grown into one of the most powerful and feared institutions in the city. 

While the Ministry maintains strict control over written, spoken, and physical content, it is most notorious for its draconian regulation of the written word and confiscation of all manner of "indecent" books. It restricts the manufacture and ownership of printing presses,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_book_trade The book trade, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Ministry heavily regulates the manufacture and ownership of printing presses in London. [...]"''</ref> requiring all publications to be submitted for evaluation.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_men_from_the_Ministry The men from the Ministry, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Ministry of Public Decency requires you to submit a copy of your work before it is exposed to the public."''</ref> Forbidden texts are often incinerated in the Ministry’s vault-furnaces,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/An_Avid_Auditor_for_the_Ministry_of_Public_Decency An Avid Auditor for the Ministry of Public Decency, ''Fallen London''] ''"His dedication has been recognised. As of Tuesday, he has the keys to the Ministry's vault-furnaces – and the hoards of forbidden material awaiting destruction."''</ref> which are heavily secured facilities to which only a handful of Auditors possess the keys.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Play_on_the_last_scraps_of_the_Auditor%27s_conscience Play on the last scraps of the Auditor's conscience, ''Fallen London''] ''"He is convinced. […] His passwords open a wooden door, then an iron one, and finally a door of flint. […] Within, a clumsy hill of books is stacked like tinder: […] "Take what you must!" your mark hisses, urgently. You oblige."''</ref> Even private letters are not beyond the Ministry’s reach, as mail is routinely examined for subversive content.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Courier%27s_work Courier's work, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Ministry of Public Decency opens letters. [...]"''</ref> Confiscated items are stored at various locations around London,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Rob_an_outlying_depository Rob an outlying depository, ''Fallen London''] ''"This place has been forgotten. Most of the material here isn't worth that much, but there is an awful lot of it. On your third trip you bring a cart. It takes a few days to sift the good stuff out, but it is worth the effort. You finish with a creditable pile of forbidden books, scandalous journals and saleable secrets."''</ref> but the most dangerous are held at '''Hookman House''', a heavily guarded and fortified archive.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Light_Fingers:_The_Hookman_House_Caper Light Fingers: The Hookman House Caper, ''Fallen London''] ''"Hookman House. The Ministry of Public Decency's archive of confiscated works. A library whose shelves are lined with razor-wire. Grim […] dogs patrol the corridors. The guards are carefully-selected; they must be both illiterate and cruel. […]"''</ref> 

The Ministry additionally requires that public performances be licensed, either through official channels or through bribes,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/%27Obtain%27_licences_from_the_Ministry_of_Public_Decency 'Obtain' licences from the Ministry of Public Decency, ''Fallen London''] ''"You fall back on the traditional lubricant for the wheels of bureaucracy. Precious objects, in substantial quantities. Irksome, but […] at least they're efficient. And you pick up some fascinating secrets in the careful pre-bribe negotiations."''</ref> and prohibits any open discussion of the [[The Correspondence|Correspondence]].<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_few_quiet_seminars A few quiet seminars, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Ministry of Public Decency has forbidden speaking about the Correspondence, but a few discreet meetings with masked scholars might be profitable."''</ref> Its agents regularly patrol the [[University]] to monitor students and scholars.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Those_meddling_men_from_the_Ministry Those meddling men from the Ministry, ''Fallen London''] ''"The men from the Ministry of Public Decency are a common sight around the university. Even the Stoats leave them alone."''</ref><ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Deal_with_the_evaluators Deal with the evaluators, ''Fallen London''] ''"If your new department is to become a reality, you must convince the men from the Ministry that you don't represent a threat to order and decency. You must arrange and edit your works to prove yourself entirely harmless."''</ref> Given the Ministry's vast network and relentless pursuit of censorship, the city's [[Revolutionaries|revolutionary]] elements will take any opportunity to undermine its efforts.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Help_plant_an_agent_in_the_Ministry_for_Public_Decency Help plant an agent in the Ministry for Public Decency, ''Fallen London''] ''"You meet the revolutionaries' agent […] outside the Ministry […]. You introduce her as […] a […] clerk […] The Jovial Contrarian meets you afterwards. […] "[T]he Masters censor material […] [W]e will find out what that is...""''</ref> 

== Big Br- er, The Ministry Is Watching You ==
<blockquote>''"A Special Constable at your door! The Specials serve the Ministry of Public Decency. One might say they are guardians against the final fall of night, or catspaws of Mr Pages. In either case, they are rarely good news."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/An_unmarked_black_coach|An unmarked black coach|Fallen London|}}</ref> </blockquote>A variety of different agents and organizations enforce the Ministry's mandates. '''Decency Evaluators''' are infamous for their diligence in rooting out radical ideas, often resorting to burning any subversive material they uncover,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Bury_it_deep Bury it deep, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Men from the Ministry are disciplined and intellectually competent. […] You have judged it perfectly. The objectionable sections of your material exceed their grasp by inches. Your work shall not suffer their rough hands or their consuming flames."''</ref> but they are not infallible and may be susceptible to bribery due to their low pay.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Come_to_an_equitable_arrangement Come to an equitable arrangement, ''Fallen London''] ''"Decency Evaluators are paid a pittance, but this one is too honest to bribe. Fortunately, you discover with a little digging that he has a desperate need for fine candles."''</ref> '''Censors''' conduct raids to destroy illicit literature,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Persona_Engine The Persona Engine, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] We questioned the publisher and raided homes. Sometimes the owners weren't in – we'd enter regardless. [...]"''</ref> equipped with cudgels, official stamps, and silver Ministry badges,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Persona_Engine The Persona Engine, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] His cudgel and his official censor's stamp hang at his side. As you near, his silver Ministry badge catches the gas-light. It glints. [...]"''</ref> and have the power to raise criminal charges against authors.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Working_with_the_Youthful_Naturalist Working with the Youthful Naturalist, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] If the Ministry of Public Decency saw even one diagram, they'd condemn him to New Newgate for ten lifetimes."''</ref> The [[Constables]] are also partially under the Ministry’s control, acting as an extended arm of censorship enforcement;<ref name=":0">[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Talk_about_the_other_Special_Constables Talk about the other Special Constables, ''Fallen London''] ''""They work with the Ministry […] does good work too. Keeps the nightmares out of the streets, stops the things from crawling out of the wells […] it's Mr Pages' personal fiefdom. And they're his puppets […] she looks very like the Cheery Man."''</ref> the Special Constables in particular are assigned to deal with the most dangerous of threats to society,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/An_unmarked_black_coach An unmarked black coach, ''Fallen London''] ''"A Special Constable at your door! The Specials serve the Ministry of Public Decency. One might say they are guardians against the final fall of night, or catspaws of Mr Pages. In either case, they are rarely good news."''</ref> like [[red honey]] and unwarranted use of the [[Correspondence]].<ref name=":0" /> As if all this wasn't enough, the Ministry contracts private detectives to recover proscribed material,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Consulting_detective_required_for_government_work Consulting detective required for government work, ''Fallen London''] ''"Forbidden texts have been stolen from Hookman House, the Ministry of Public Decency's central stock of the salacious, seditious and vile."''</ref> and couriers to transport it securely.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Persuade_a_courier_that_the_books_should_be_saved Persuade a courier that the books should be saved, ''Fallen London''] ''"The men of the Ministry of Public Decency are said to be incorruptible. However, they employ private couriers. And you are rather convincing."''</ref> 

The Ministry's reach also extends to other governmental and civic arenas. It keeps tabs on the [[Foreign Office]],<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Escort_duty Escort duty, ''Fallen London''] ''"A senior diplomat and a veteran spy collar you beside the bust of Lord Palmerston. "Would you mind accompanying this month's reports to the archives at Decency?""''</ref> assigns auditors to keep anyone without a permit out of the [[Bazaar]]'s Side-Streets,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Turn_back_3 Turn back, ''Fallen London''] ''"Ministry Auditors prowl the fashionable streets here, looking for those who do not belong. You are unimportant to them. That makes you most unwelcome here."''</ref><ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_document_of_some_sort A document of some sort, ''Fallen London''] ''"[…] This is a Shaper's Pass. It'll allow you entry to certain side streets of the Bazaar. […]"''</ref> and performs inspections at [[Wolfstack Docks]] to root out any contraband beyond the pay grade of the Customs Service.<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/An_Inspection_by_the_Ministry_of_Public_Decency An Inspection by the Ministry of Public Decency, ''Sunless Sea''] ''"Some things are too illegal for the Customs Service to admit the existence of. The Ministry are here looking for those."''</ref> It oversees divorce proceedings,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Seek_a_divorce Seek a divorce, ''Fallen London''] ''"Unhappy souls wishing to sever the marital bond may seek a divorce from Her Majesty's Courts. If the Crown - and the Auditors from the Ministry of Public Decency - are satisfied by your petition, they will dissolve your marriage."''</ref> forcing couples through a lengthy and grueling legal process before separation is allowed.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Is_all_this_really_necessary%3F Share Tales of Terror about your spouse with the Court, ''Fallen London''] ''"You may denounce your spouse. But to do so, the Ministry requires they be present to denounce you in turn."''</ref><ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Testify_that_love_has_faded Testify that love has faded, ''Fallen London''] ''"You present a written account to the Glowering Judge. […] At his request, you read it aloud. You speak of happier times. The Judge listens for any note of uncertainty in your voice. The Auditors examine your deposition for tear-marks."''</ref><ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Present_your_spouse%27s_inadequacies_to_the_court Present your spouse's inadequacies to the court, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Ministry insists that persons wishing to enumerate their spouse's flaws must do so with consent; and must open themselves to that same scrutiny."''</ref> Lastly (but far from least), it has participated in the organization of major public events and institutions, including the [[The Museum of Mistakes|Museum of Mistakes]],<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Prepare_your_Theft_from_the_Museum_of_Mistakes! Prepare your Theft from the Museum of Mistakes!, ''Fallen London''] ''"Very few are permitted to visit the Museum. It's the direct responsibility of the Ministry of Public Decency, which manages secrets too lethal or embarrassing or disgusting for public exposure. […] be very, very careful. […]"''</ref> the [[Lord Mayor of London|Mayoral Elections]],<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Perform_a_Flash_Lay_-_learn_campaign_secrets Perform a Flash Lay - learn campaign secrets, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Ministry of Public Decency has assumed oversight of the Election. If you can pass as one of their senior officials, you will have both authority and excuse to go snooping about the three campaigns' headquarters.'"''</ref> and the [[The Grand Clearing-Out|Grand Clearing-Out]].<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Grand_Clearing-Out:_An_Announcement_is_Made The Grand Clearing-Out: An Announcement is Made, ''Fallen London''] ''"[..'<nowiki/>'''.'<nowiki/>''']'' ''And then, at the very bottom, in minuscule print: The Ministry of Public Decency reserves the right to inspect, confiscate, destroy, censor, censure, or condemn any items retrieved from Beneath London's Streets."''</ref>  

== The Ministry in the Skies ==
<blockquote>''"A huge, horseshoe-shaped building of white stone, white columns, clocks, and iron gates. Inside, its walls are panelled with dark wood. Crimson carpets – worn by frequent passage – flood the floors. Within its cubby-hole offices, auditors toil to protect the sensibilities of Londoners here in the heathen sky."''<ref>[https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Ministries#The_Ministry_of_Public_Decency The Ministry of Public Decency, ''Sunless Skies'']</ref></blockquote>In the ''Sunless Skies'' timeline, by 1906, the Ministry of Public Decency has been reestablished in a grand edifice in [[New London]].<ref>[https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Ministries#The_Ministry_of_Public_Decency The Ministry of Public Decency, ''Sunless Skies''] ''"A huge, horseshoe-shaped building of white stone, white columns, clocks, and iron gates. Inside, its walls are panelled with dark wood. Crimson carpets – worn by frequent passage – flood the floors. Within its cubby-hole offices, auditors toil to protect the sensibilities of Londoners here in the heathen sky."''</ref> The Ministry still retains its original purpose of censorship, but it has gained an additional objective of upholding "Britishness."<ref>[https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Ministries#The_Ministries The Ministries, ''Sunless Skies''] ''"[...] the Ministry of Public Decency (which curates the notion of 'Britishness' with the same care a lepidopterist uses to pin a butterfly to a board.)"''</ref> Captains are encouraged to gather port reports and surrender contraband to the Information Office,<ref>[https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Ministries#The_Ministry_of_Public_Decency Request an appointment, ''Sunless Skies''] ''"Best thing for a someone like yourself to do is to gather reports on nearby ports. I'm sure the Information Office would love to hear them. Then I could pop your name in this little book, and up you go!"''</ref> allowing them to gain the favor of the Ministry as well as material rewards.<ref>[https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Ministries#The_Ministry_of_Public_Decency Deliver your port reports to the Genial Auditor, ''Sunless Skies''] ''"He listens intently, writing notes on a pad of paper. His comments are absolutely neutral. [...] Afterwards, he writes a requisition form for you. "Just pop this into Finance on your way out, and they'll see to the needful," he says. "Terribly grateful. Best keep this information to yourself though, eh? Rest assured we are experts. We'll ensure it's handled sensitively.""''</ref>

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