UK To Ban Children From TV?
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:47 pm
The TimesChildren under 14 could be banned from factual television shows
Patrick Foster, Media Correspondent
Shows such as Blue Peter and Newsround would be impossible under government plans to ban children under 14 from appearing in factual television programmes, broadcasters warned.
The Times has obtained a memo from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) that sets out the changes. It said that under 14s would be able to take part only if they were singing, acting or dancing.
The review comes after public concern over the treatment of children in shows such as Channel 4's Boys and Girls Alone, in which 20 primary school children were left without supervision for a fortnight and were shown fighting and crying, as well as the appearance of youngsters in televised talent competitions.
The Government had planned to publish last month changes to the regulations, which have not been updated since 1968, but delayed publication until late next month after a lobbying effort by broadcasters.
In a memo sent to local authorities, which licence children to appear on television, the Government said that the latest time that 5 to 16-year-olds could perform would be moved from 7pm to 11pm and that it would introduce compulsory "emotional risk assessments", as well as a requirement for programme-makers to engage child psychologists, to ensure children's mental wellbeing.
But it is the plans to ban under 14s from factual programmes that has drawn the greatest criticism. "We will highlight the application of existing primary legislation that says that many more factual programmes must be licensed, and that children under 14 cannot take part unless they are singing, dancing or acting," it said.
The BBC said that the regulations were over-bureaucratic and would scupper a whole range of its children's output. A spokesman said: "The BBC understands the need for sensible licensing of child performers but is very concerned that it looks like the participation of children under 14 in factual entertainment shows could be threatened by an over-bureacratic and over-extensive system.
"This would have a direct and negative impact on such shows as Newsround's Press Packers, and CBBC's Me and My Movie as it would prevent children's voices being heard in entirely appropriate circumstances."
John McVay, the chief executive of the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television, which represents independent producers, said that the proposals were "absolutely chilling".
"It would be a disaster for the young children of Britain if they weren't able to see themselves on television doing the everyday things that they enjoy," he said.
Laura Mansfield, joint managing director of Outline Productions, whose credits include the House Of Tiny Tearaways, said: "As a mother of young children as well as a producer of factual entertainment shows featuring children, I am highly concerned about potentially limiting British children's voices on television to this degree.
"Limiting children's factual participation on television in effect to singing, dancing and acting would be a great loss to the cultural landscape of this country."
Even groups lobbying for stronger regulation said that the proposals to ban under 14s went too far. Terry Drury, chair of the National Network for Child Employment and Entertainment, which represents council enforcement officers, said: "It's a travesty. We are very concerned about that because we feel that it wouldn't enable younger children to take part in television."
Melanie Gill, a forensic child psychologist who led the complaints against Boys and Girls Alone, said: "It takes it too far, it's throwing the baby out with the bathwater. We think that children under 14 should be allowed to be on television, as long as it's done in a psychologically safe environment."
A spokeswoman for the DCSF said: "This is not about clamping down on popular talent programmes but making sure that the regulations and guidance, which haven't been updated in 40 years, enables children to take full advantage of the opportunities television and other forms of entertainment can offer in a safe and sensible way."
