Parents could be reported to police if children play violent video games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto
A letter warning of gory and sexualised video games was sent to parents
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Schools have threatened to report parents to the police if their children are caught playing violent video games such as Call Of Duty and Grand Theft Auto.
A letter was sent to parents of children in 16 schools in Cheshire – one secondary and 15 primary institutions – after some were reported to have played or watched games with adult or criminal themes such as warfare, sex and carjacking.
The Nantwich Education Partnership, the group of schools who sent the warning, said age-inappropriate games could increase “early sexualised behaviours” and the advice was in line with local authority policy and concerns.
The letter was drafted by headteacher Mary Hennessy Jones of Pear Tree School in Nantwich before being sent out last month.
She wrote: “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.
“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.”
Parents were also warned about allowing their youngsters to have accounts on social media sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp because it could make them vulnerable to sexual grooming and explicit images.
The letter went on: “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.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments