A BID to persuade video game makers to publish clearer content warnings for parents on their products has been launched by Stratton Primary School.

The campaign has already secured the backing of Conservative Tony Hogg, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and Conservative Adam Simmonds, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire.

The head and governors at Stratton Primary School launched a petition on Monday on Change.org, calling on video game manufacturers to help parents make more informed choices.

Phil Aldis, headteacher at Stratton Primary School, said: “Underage gaming is an increasing problem in primary school education, where children as young as six years old are using racist and sexual references that they have copied from games.

“We believe the solution isn’t to tell people what to do and regulate. It is up to parents to decide what is right for their own children. Instead we are asking all gaming manufacturers of 18 certificate-rated video games to voluntarily publish clearer warnings on their front cover packaging, not on the back in small print — similar to tobacco packaging in style and prominence.”

Mr Hogg, who has signed the online petition, said: “I am in no doubt that companies which produce video games need to give clear and obvious guidance about the suitability, or not, for young people.

“I applaud any moves to try and get companies that are not already doing so to make that change and to take the lead in protecting vulnerable people.”

Mr Simmonds said: “I fully support this action by Stratton Primary School to petition computer game manufacturers to publish clearer warnings about the adult-rated content of games on the front of their packaging.

“The growing problem of under-age gaming is subjecting children and young people to content they are simply not ready to understand, and consequently we are informed of how racist phrases and sexual references taken straight from adult-rated games are being used in schools.

“Our pioneering Online Safety consultation of children and young people across Northamptonshire in 2015 told us that from the age of eight, 85% of children’s computer time is unsupervised. As a result, we need to ensure parents are fully informed of the true content of games they may be buying for their children through adequate and responsible labelling.”