Scottish Police chief blames violent games for teenage stabbing

A knife attack in Clydebank has been blamed on the offender’s access to violent video games.

The games-loving Daily Mail reports that an unnamed 13-year-old (who is apparently already a father) slashed the throat of a 14-year-old friend whom he met via Gears of War 3 online.

The victim reportedly told paramedics that his attacker had slit his throat in an argument about Xbox games”.

These games are rated 18 and shouldn’t be played by children of this young age,” Scottish Police Federation chairman Brian Docherty stated. But online gaming may be outside their parents’ knowledge. We need to look again at what we can do to stop this.”

Prosecutor Andrew Brown QC added: The reporting officer was of the opinion that the violent video games played online by the accused may have been a factor in his conduct.

The pair had fall-outs online amounting to name-calling via the messaging system used in the game.”

A Microsoft spokesperson added: We have some of the most robust parental control systems to empower parents to decide how their children play and communicate. We have the greatest sympathy for the victim and his family.”