The Trading Standards Institute has called for auction sites to implement age-restrictive payment systems on video game sales.

Children are easily buying violent video games on popular internet auction sites, the UK’s Trading Standards Institute (TSI) has said.

According to a TSI investigation, nearly 90% of dealers were found to be supplying 12-16 year olds with 18-rated games, including Manhunt, Grand Theft Auto, Godfather and Hitman.

If caught selling the games to the underage, they could face up to six months in jail, as well as severe fines.

The TSI has called for auction sites to implement more stringent age checks on their payment systems. Currently, sites which accept postal orders as payment have no method of determining whether the person they are selling to is aged 18 or over.

Brandon Cook, TSI Lead Officer for age restricted sales, said: “If traders cannot be sure the person they are selling to is over 18, then they should not be selling. There are a number of companies out there that will run age checks on customers for internet traders. These services are very quick and relatively cheap.”

Ron Gainsford, Chief Cxecutive of TSI, added: “The TSI takes an active role in helping internet traders avoid making underage sales by giving out advice and guidance to businesses. I would urge traders who need help in this area to contact their local Trading Standards Service for information and support.”

The TSI survey was carried out by Trading Standards Services at six local authorities in Wales, as well as being completed under the umbrella of the Trading Standards Wales NETWISE initiative, which aims to develop and maintain a coordinated approach to internet enforcement within the country.

For more information, visit www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

By Natasha Piscitelli