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The Video Appeals Committee today announced that the result of their
reconsideration of the Manhunt 2 appeal remains that the
appeal against the rejection of the work by the BBFC
 is
upheld.
The Board’s decision to refuse a certificate to Manhunt 2 was
successfully challenged on appeal to the Video Appeals Committee.
The Board challenged the VAC’s decision by way of Judicial Review
before the High Court, which quashed the decision on grounds of
errors of law. The VAC has now reconsidered the appeal in the light
of the High Court’s directions on the law but has decided, again by
a majority of four to three, to allow the appeal on the basis that
Manhunt 2 should be given an ‘18’ certificate.
In the light of legal advice the Board does not believe the VAC’s
judgement provides a realistic basis for a further challenge to its
decision and has accordingly issued an ‘18’ certificate.
David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said: “As I have said previously,
we never take rejection decisions lightly, and they always involve a
complex balance of considerations. We twice rejected Manhunt 2,
and then pursued a judicial review challenge, because we considered,
after exceptionally thorough examination, that it posed a real
potential harm risk. However, the Video Appeals Committee has again
exercised its independent scrutiny. It is now clear, in the light of
this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but
to issue an ‘18’ certificate to the game.”
While many may see this as a triumph for RockStar Games, you have to
wonder what kind of scrutiny future titles will fall under, and how
many more games shall suffer similar delays.
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