Racism is the new swearing in films

Racism and blasphemy have overtaken swearing as the main worry for parents at the cinema, film censors revealed today.

The British Board of Film Classificat ion unveiled new guidelines for how age restrictions should be imposed, following surveys to determine what modern cinemagoers find most offensive.

Under the new guidelines, the most offensive swearwords such as "f***" and "c**t" are more likely to be tolerated in films approved for viewing by younger teenagers, especially when their context is jokey rather than violent. But words like " nigger" and "Paki" will be more likely to ensure a film is rated 15 or 18.

Censors will treat depictions of racial violence and casual blasphemy, such as using "Jesus Christ" as an expletive, more seriously. There will also be a clampdown on scenes showing self-harm or people committing suicide, following complaints from parents that young or vulnerable viewers could be encouraged to copy. The present ratings of U, PG, 12A, 15 and 18 will still apply.

The board questioned more than 11,000 people and found that the areas of greatest public concern were depiction of drugs, violence, sex and racial or religious references.

BBFC president Sir Quentin Thomas said the old guidelines are "still, on the whole, in line with public attitudes and concerns", but drawing on the survey and on expert advice, "we have added, or given greater weight to, a number of key concerns".

The board's director David Cooke said: "We are acutely aware that there will be works which we pass, at whatever classification, which may shock or offend some sections of the population, just as we sometimes outrage libertarian views when we intervene to cut, or even refuse a certificate."