BBFC and Labour Shun Cameron's Throw-Away Comments News
Gwynne Dixon
03/09/2007
Industry regulators and the Government have criticised David Cameron's attack on violent computer games...
Following policies laid out by David Cameron in his 'It's Time To Fight Back' mini-manifesto last week, the British Board of Film Classification (who're also responsible for age ratings on videogames) have defended their current classification system while speaking to trade site MCV.
The Tory leader published the following comments last week regarding the current classification system:
"Conservative Government will review the regulatory framework relating to films and video games to ensure that violence and misogyny are not directly promoted to young people."
Since then, a spokesperson for the BBFC has defended their classification system for games, stating that: "BBFC classification is based on what the public deems acceptable. We feel confident that we have public consent on how we deal with issues such as gun and knife crime."
The Labour Government has also defended the current system, with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport telling MCV: "We have a strict enforcement code for people who supply '18' or '15' rated games to children. Adults can make their own decisions which games to play, as they can which films to watch."
Following these new policy introductions from the Conservative shadow cabinet Paul Jackson, Director General of the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), has told MCV that they will be meeting with the Shadow Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt, in October. Mr. Jackson commented that: "David Cameron's comments require clarification."
Jeremy Hunt has pledged support for the UK Games Industry previously, although he called for "the industry to live up to their social responsibilities and work with Government" when speaking to TVG last week.