A National investigation into under-age videogame sales began last week with Dundee Council and Trading Standards working together to expose retailers who sell mature rated games to minors.

The first operation began last week and targeted 16 retail outlets in the Dundee area, sending in a 14 year old volunteer to purchase a mature rated game. 12 of the 16 stores investigated, which haven't been named, sold the game to the teenager, while Game, Gamestation, PC World and WH Smith refused to sell the game.

It's thought that some of the offending retailers still sold the game despite having a system on their tills that triggers whenever they scan a mature rated game warning them to be wary of selling it to youngsters. If retailers are caught frequently selling games to under-age customers they could be slapped with a £5,000 fine or even face prison sentences.

“Clearly there are issues that need to be addressed, and we will be following up matters with the retailers involved,” said a representative from Dundee Council.

Further investigations are due to take place across Britain in the following months.