Fears over 18-rated violent computer games

Church EDUCATIONISTS and Catholic teachers have expressed concerns over pupils playing violent adult-rated computer games at home while parents are left ignorant about their children’s activities, writes James Macintyre.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Whitstable, Kent, has conducted a questionnaire with pupils on internet safety which revealed that at least seven children were playing games meant for those aged over 18. The school is hosting an internet safety event on 29 April aimed at providing expert advice to parents.

The Church has repeatedly urged the Government to tighten “filters” on computers and mobile phones for children using the internet. But the fresh concerns revolve around games such as Call of Duty, which is a war game, and Grand Theft Auto which includes sexual scenes as well as violence. The games can be accessed through and bought on the internet.

In February, Morian Morgan, head teacher of Coed-y-Brain Primary School, in Llanbradach in South Wales said that teachers had witnessed children as young as six re-enacting violent and sexually explicit scenes from the games.

St Mary’s deputy head teacher Chris Wright said parents often do not know what their children are accessing on their computers. “The ratings are very clear and parents have to set their own guidance,” he said. “Where we feel we can help is in raising awareness through the online aspect of playing games. It’s an area where the children know more about it than the adults.”

A spokeswoman for the Catholic Education Service said it “shares the concerns of a great many parents and teachers about the safety of children when they access the internet”.