It's Now Legal To Sell Adult Games To Minors In The UK

[GamerMan316]

Gotta love this 

File under: Oh Dear. A series of administrative blunders in the UK has resulted in the discovery today that the country's video game ratings laws are not actually in effect.

In 1984, the Video Recordings Act was passed in British parliament, resulting in the supposed implementation of a law that would see retailers and individuals punished for providing under-age customers with age-restricted content (including video games).

Only, there was a problem: Britain, as a member of the European Union, never forwarded the paperwork onto the EU. Something every law needs to do in order to be formally passed.

This means that the Act was never actually implemented. And hasn't been for the past 25 years.

Those who have already been convicted of an offence under the act will remain convicted, and can't have their penalties/fines/sentences reduced. But those about to be prosecuted will be spared, at least until the government can enact "emergency legislation" to close the loophole (which we'd imagine won't be long).

And in the meantime? Until said loophole is closed, it's 100% legal for anyone, of any age, to buy anything. Movies, games, porn, doesn't matter. Even if it's media content that was previously banned in the UK, until that emergency legislation is passed, it's all good.

Oh, to be a 13 year-old British boy right now...

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[sambo]

You should see the smile on  Diablo's face.

[GamerMan316]

You should see the smile on  Diablo's face.

i was thinking that 

[TaraJayne]

what a great story. Please dont tell my kids

[DFUSIONITE]

This might be true but it didn't stop the girl in my local game station asking how old I was when handed her a copy of the darkness at the checkout. I laughed thinking she was joking and she got all stroppy and said 'Is something funny, I am being serious i will need some ID'. I laughed again and told her I was 28 and I didn't carry id as I didn't need to. Eventually she sold me the game after I asked to see the manager!! It made my day it did, although my wife insists she must have been very short sighted.

[nCogNeato]

Those who have already been convicted of an offence under the act will remain convicted, and can't have their penalties/fines/sentences reduced. But those about to be prosecuted will be spared

That is some f***ing bullshit!  I'm not going to condone the sell of adult material to minors, but if the legal system f***ed up, they need to be held responsible.

I'll tell you this.  If I was in prison right now for doing something that wasn't actually a crime, I would incite a riot.   

[Failed]

I watched this on Sky News last night, crazy stuff.

I still won't be selling 18's to kids though. The PEGI ratings are now legal too, so they can still feck you up, just not the BBFC ratings. I'm bound to get some smart-ass kid trying it on. I'll say ;

'That's European law, the British law says i can't sell it, i'm English not European'

Stay out brussels!

[El Grand Diablo]

(Puts hands together in a Burns fashion) Eeexcellent!


But I'm not one for being a dick in a games shop, stating European law just to get a game, thats what the internets for!

[Failed]

The internets for being a dick?

I'm glad i've been doing something right lately then. 

[El Grand Diablo]

The internets for being a dick?

I'm glad i've been doing something right lately then. 

Quite right!


I've gotta to learn to read over what I type before I post it! 

[TaraJayne]

awww look at Diablo's little mee. So cute

[TaraJayne]

The government has moved to close a legal loophole which enabled retailers to sell adult movies and games to children without fear of prosecution.

Last August, an error was discovered in the 1984 Video Recordings Act which meant that legal measures to prevent the sale of adult material to under-18s were actually unenforceable.

The problem occurred because of a failure to include the offences and provisions section from the Act in a draft supplied for approval to the European Commission.

However, the government has now fast-tracked the Video Recordings Bill, which reaffirms full legal powers for prosecuting anyone caught selling inappropriate material to minors.

Under-secretary of state for culture, media and sport Siôn Simon said that the "short Bill" simply repeals and revises all provisions pertaining to offences in the 1984 Act.

"The Bill does not introduce any new provisions or offences into the 1984 Act; it simply restores a system of classification that has been in operation for the last 25 years, which has worked to stop the circulation of the worst kind of video material," he said.

"It is a system that is well understood and liked by a clear majority of the public and the industry. The Bill is essential to ensure proper protection of the public from the inappropriate supply of violent and sexual video material by making the offences under the 1984 Act enforceable again.

"The boxed market is still huge and will be so for a considerable period of time, and that is why it is so important that we use this procedure to close the loophole so that we protect the public in general, but particularly children, from the irresponsible retailing of unsuitable and inappropriate material."

So Failed can stop beating up rude  kids now

[Failed]

So Failed can stop beating up rude  kids now

I don't think so, until they introduce some law that makes violence illegal, but i can't see that heppening!!!