Judge blocks sale of violent video game

Published on Friday 25 January 2008 09:27

MOVES to allow a "dark and violent" adult video computer game to go on sale in the UK have been blocked by a High Court judge, who ordered that the matter be reconsidered.

The British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) refused to give Manhunt 2 – from Edinburgh-based Rockstar Games – classification in case it fell into the hands of children.

Last month, the Video Appeals Committee (VAC) lifted the ban when it allowed an appeal by the US publishers.

It ruled the game was "unlikely" to cause harm to adults or children and awarded it an 18 certificate.

But a High Court judge in London has now ruled VAC's decision was fatally flawed by "a clear error of law" when it came to the test for assessing the question of harm.

Mr Justice Mitting said the committee had to reconsider its decision in the light of his judgement.

During yesterday's hearing, BBFC expressed concern that the VAC decision could have serious implications for its watchdog role "not only in relation to video games, but generally".