Whitehall blunder means it's legal to sell adult games to kids.

By strange coincidence given my post topic earlier today, it has just come to light via The Times that the Act governing the sale and classification of video games in the UK (as well as DVD's and videos) was never enacted!

This effectively means that the authorities are unable to legally stop anybody from selling 18 classified games and movies to children until the loophole is closed by emergency legislation.

It is also possible they will now also have to review (and probably revoke) any convictions that have occurred over the past 25 years. After all, can you convict someone of a crime that does not 'exist'?


The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has stated that it had received legal advice that people who had previously been prosecuted and convicted would be unable to overturn their convictions or seek compensation but whether this will hold up in court if put to the test is another matter, particularly if the European courts get involved.

Given my own views on video game classification and minors (I hate hearing kids talking about playing games like Grand Theft Auto; even worse are the staff from high street stores such as GAME whom often sell them such titles), I find this lapse quite disturbing although in effect, the fact that no one actually realised this has no doubt prevented any major problems. That said it will be interesting to see if anybody flouts the loophole before its rectified now that it has been publicised.

So there you go; if you’re German you can't see blood even if the game is adult rated because the young need to be protected (even though they couldn't buy it anyway). In the UK we'll sell them anything...