ELSPA has responded positively to the Home Office’s latest crackdown on violent crime, stating that its efforts in lobbying the government have influenced the report’s ‘grown up’ attitude to gaming.

“ELSPA had been very concerned about the content of this document as much has previously been made by the media and Parliament of a link between violent video games and violent crime,” says the statement.

“As a consequence over the last few months ELSPA has spent time briefing all government stakeholders as to the positive impacts of games and research already undertaken in this area. To their credit they appear to have listened to what we have had to say, as while the document does express concern over the way violence can be presented in popular culture, it doesn’t single out games and goes on to state that government ‘will work with relevant industries and regulators to ensure that any response is proportionate and evidence based’”

“This is a marked change in government thinking on this issue which, while we remain cautious, we warmly applaud. We look forward to meeting with government to discuss this issue further in due course.”

The Violent Crime Action Plan report can be found here.