Video games warning
Shops warned against selling to minors
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Sunday, 05, Dec 2004 12:00
Violent computer video games should carry clearer warnings to prevent parents unwittingly buying them for their children the Trade and Industry Secretary has said.
Patricia Hewitt is expected to call for the law banning the sale of 18-rated games to children to be enforced better when she meets industry and consumer representatives at a special games summit on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Ms Hewitt praised the UK's "vibrant games industry" but expressed concern that children were playing video games intended for adults.
"Adults should be treated as adults and children as children. It is important that retailers respect the classifications and do not sell games with high levels of violence to minors," she said.
"Equally parents need to know what they might be buying for their children."
"We need to look carefully at how we improve content warnings and strengthen sales enforcement," she added.
Ms Hewitt's call for clearer labeling has been backed by Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Tessa Jowell.
"You wouldn't let your child watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. You wouldn't let them go to a strip club.
"So you shouldn't let them play an 18-rated game," said Ms Jowell.
Millions of parents are expected to buy video games for their children this Christmas, with sales predicted to reach a record 10 million this month.
Anyone found guilty of selling an 18-rated game to a child can be imprisoned for six months and fined up to £5,000.