Protecting Young People from Age Restricted Videos and Computer Games
The Facts
The Video Recordings Act 1984 (as amended) prohibits the supply of:
unclassified media such as DVDs and videos
the supply of age restricted media to underage persons
The maximum fine for the offences is £20,000 and/or up to 2 years imprisonment.
Not all video/computer games are required to carry age restrictions. Only those marked with a BBFC rating are age restrictions enforceable by law. Others may be marked with, for example, a PEGI age rating; this is an age guidance indicator, not an age restriction.
Hampshire County Council's Trading Standards officers only consider carrying out test purchases using young volunteers to see if retailers do sell irresponsibly on receipt of intelligence.
Very few complaints of this nature are received and those that are usually relate to video games with advisory ages rather than legal age restrictions.
Most traders are acting responsibly and are aware of their legal obligations. Those in any doubt when making a sale must ask for photographic proof of age and if they are still unsure they should refuse the sale.
What we are doing now:
Providing advice to businesses on request.
Routine inspections to ask about the controls used in stores to prevent under age access.
Actively seeking information from parents, schools, police, etc. as to which shops are selling to youngsters.
Phone the hotline on 01962 833620
Text message to 60003 starting your message HANTS UNDERAGE