Byron Review Author Clarifies Recommendations

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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Byron Review Author Clarifies Recommendations


Dr. Tanya Byron has said reports that the Byron Review [http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/byronreview/]recommended stiff prison sentences for retailers who sell games to underage gamers is "plain wrong."

Early reports on the content of the Review by the MCV [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3628894.ece]that current penalties for selling games to underage customers are adequate, and that no such recommendation exists.

"That's nowhere in the Review. Nowhere," Byron said. "I haven't recommended any scary new legal threats to retailers. That's plain wrong. I've read that elsewhere and I'd like to be really clear about that. The law as it stands says you can't sell games to anyone under the statutory age of a BBFC-rated product. I didn't make that up. It's the law, and retailers already know it. All that's changed is that "12" will now join "15" and "18" as a statutory rating."

Reaction to the Review has been strong since its release. The offering cash [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=547008&in_page_id=1770]for stories in which people confess how videogames drove them to a life of crime.

A full copy of the Byron Review, including glossary, bibliography, details of the process and a list of contributors, is available here [http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/byronreview/pdfs/Final%20Report%20Bookmarked.pdf]. (PDF format)


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