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29th Mar 2015

Parents could be reported to police for letting kids play Grand Theft Auto

JOE

There’s arguably nothing more innocent than loading up Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty and brutally killing thousands of video game characters from the safety of your own home.

But parents have been warned that they face being reported to police and social services if they allow their children to play adult video games that could lead to ‘early sexualised behaviours’.

The deterrent was issued by The Nantwich Education Partnership – a collaboration of 15 primary schools and one secondary academy.

‘Several children have reported playing or watching adults play games which are inappropriate for their age and they have described the levels of violence and sexual content they have witnessed: Call Of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Dogs Of War and other similar games are all inappropriate for children and they should not have access to them,’ said a letter sent to parents last month.

‘If your child is allowed to have inappropriate access to any game or associated product that is designated 18-plus we are advised to contact the police and children’s social care as it is neglectful.’

The letter also warned parents of the dangers of allowing children to use Facebook and WhatsApp, adding: ‘Access to these games or to some social media sites such as those above increases early sexualised behaviours (sometimes harmful) in children and leaves them vulnerable to grooming for sexual exploitation or extreme violence.’

H/T The Telegraph.