London riots: Grand Theft Auto videogames to blame

by Steven Mostyn - Aug 9 2011, 12:26

There’s rioting in the streets of London and across other major UK cities and, if you believe the reported comments of an unnamed police constable in the capital, Rockstar Games’ open-world crime series Grand Theft Auto is to blame.

“These are bad people who did this. Kids out of control,” the London Evening Standard quotes the anonymous policeman as saying. “When I was young it was all Pac-Man and board games. Now they’re playing Grand Theft Auto and want to live it for themselves.”

With the streets of London in an apparent state of “lawlessness” for a second night, police resources are being stretched thin as officers strive to prevent mobs of easily influenced kids from joining the riots.

Violent instances of rioting, looting and arson have flared throughout the capital city after armed police officers shot and killed a 29-year-old Tottenham man who was reportedly in possession of a harmless replica firearm.

With videogames repeatedly blamed for many of society’s ills, it’s hardly surprising to see Rockstar’s oft-contentious crime series immediately singled out and vilified—despite the existence of numerous scientific reports that show videogames do not promote or encourage real-life violence.

The latest round of knee-jerk criticism directed toward videogames comes after violent games were pulled from retail circulation in Norway following the recent shooting spree in Oslo.

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