Public Servant Lifestyle

Three years after the publication of the film and video classification guidelines the BBFC is going back to the public to ask 'are we still getting it right?'

Robin Duval, Director of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) said: “We make much of the fact that our guidelines enjoy public support, so it is essential that we regularly go back to the public to make sure we are still reflecting the general view. Our current guidelines are the most researched guidelines of any content regulator, but this time we will be asking even more people for their views on every classification issue from the usual ones of sex, bad language and violence through to how well the 12A cinema rating is doing.”

The public will be asked for their views using a variety of methods. Visitors to the BBFC website will be asked to fill in a comprehensive questionnaire covering all aspects of classification policy; in 'hall tests' carried out around the UK members of the public will be asked to take time out to sit down and read the guidelines and then fill in a questionnaire; around 30 focus groups held throughout the country will look at specific classification issues.

Public Opinion

Mr Duval said: “Public opinion does not always move one way. It is more than three years since we consulted so it will be interesting to see if attitudes have shifted and if so which way. When we consulted last time we were surprised by the strength of feeling about the portrayal of drugs, particularly in films for young people. So this is one of the issues we will be asking the public who take part in the focus groups to consider. We will also give particular emphasis to the violence guidelines, including how concerned people are about the influence of violence and violent techniques at different classification levels.”

“The issue of bad language never goes away. For every person who says that you hear worse in the playground there is another who expects the strongest expressions to be reserved to the highest ratings. There are also regional variations in the offensiveness of particular words. We will be interested to see whether people generally have become more relaxed about bad language, or whether films like Billy Elliot or Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen still need to be rated more highly just because of the strong language.

“Focus groups will also be considering how well the 12A cinema rating is working. They will be asked how helpful the consumer advice is that accompanies 12A films, whether it should be extended to accompany all ratings; whether perhaps there should be a lower age cut off point; and whether the advisory nature of the rating should even be extended to higher rated films.

“This consultation will run over several months and we will be looking not just for the general public's views but those also of all interested sectors. We hope to publish new film and video classification guidelines towards the end of 2004.”

For further information see the official website of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

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