Alun Michael: Concerned over screen violence

Research may Link Screen Violence with Crime

Results of the two-year study, to be issued in October, could put pressure on ministers to bring in tougher censorship.

The report, titled The Effectiveness of Video Violence on Young Offenders, compares the reaction of normal youths with that of violent and non-violent offenders.

The 120 youths in the sample were each questioned in detail about one video immediately after screening. Their impressions were also monitored after three and nine months.

"The more you see on television or video incidents of violence, the less shocking it becomes," said the Home Office Minister, Alun Michael.

"One would like to know whether there are some people who are particularly vulnerable to the images they see on video," he said.

"There are a lot of portrayals of violence which have very little influence on people who see them," he added. "The question is whether some people are more vulnerable to portrayals and don't make the distinction between fiction and reality."

The report's co-author Dr Kevin Browne told the Sunday Times newspaper that the report's provisional findings showed violent and non-violent offenders reacted differently.

"Between 3% and 10% of young people grow up in violent homes, either as victims or witnesses," he said. "Videos cannot create aggressive people but they will make aggressive people commit violent acts more frequently."