MP tries to close loophole on sales of extreme videos

For years, ever more extreme films – sold as either sport or music videos that include cage-fighting, nudity and self-mutilation – have been available without certificates, allowing youngsters to get hold of them, often without their parents knowing about the content.

But Labour MP Andrew Dismore, who represents Hendon in West London, will this week push to tighten the law, which allows these films to be exempted from the usual classification system, under the House of Commons' 10-Minute Rule.

At present videos and DVDs primarily concerned with sport, religion or music do not have to carry a classification.

But this has allowed material unsuitable for children to slip through.

Examples have included the cage-fighting DVD UFC Best of 2007, a combat video featuring martial arts and other fighting techniques, which is available to any child because its distributor has, quite legally, claimed exemption from classification.

This means the packaging includes no age rating or consumer advice, although the DVD contains close-ups of bloody and sustained head blows, some of them in slow motion.

Mr Dismore said: "What's happening is that responsible video companies and distributors will get an age rating for 15 or 18 releases, but some others will not. Many of these would probably be 15."

His proposal requires strong support from other MPs to get further Parliamentary time.