Clampdown on selling to children

Jersey's Trading Standards Service says it will be better placed to deal with people selling and hiring videos and computer games to under-aged islanders.

The responsibility currently lies with the island's Education, Sport and Culture department.

But this could be transferred to Trading Standards if States politicians agree to new proposals.

Chief Trading Standards officer Trevor Le Rue said the change would make the service more efficient.

Trading officers in the UK have the responsibility to search places, seize videos and prosecute traders who are selling or hiring videos and computer games to people who are underage.

But ever since the trading standards law came into Jersey in 1990, the Education, Sport and Culture department has been in charge of enforcing it and the department does not have any specific enforcement officers.

Chief Officer Le Rue said officers would be able to investigate cases properly and prosecute if necessary.