© Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited Ben Walmsley

The father of a teenage boy found dead at home believes his use of ‘Doki Doki’ - an interactive psychological horror game - could be linked.

Police have issued a warning over the free-to-play ‘Doki Doki Literature Club’, calling the game a ‘risk to children and young people’.

Schools have also been alerted by a coroner investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 15-year-old Ben Walmsley in Radcliffe, Bury, in February, ahead of a coroner’s inquest.

The game features four animated young girls and a boy who wants to join a school literature club with them. There are alternative endings depending on choices made during the course of the game, but it features graphic references and images of violence, suicide and self-harm.

Ben’s father Darren Walmsley, 49, from Radcliffe, said he believes the ‘dark’ game ‘dragged him in’ and revealed Ben was even sketching characters from the game.

He said Ben inputted his mobile phone into the game and would be contacted by text message during the day and at night, often waking him up.

© Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited

Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Mr Walmsley said: “Ben was growing up fast. It is hard for parents but this needs to be highlighted. There is no confirmation yet, but we believe that the game could be linked to Ben’s death. Characters suggest things and you decide what to do. It drags you in and they make it very real.

“Ben did not speak about it, but parents need to be aware of this game and other similar games.

“It is free to download but once you get into it, it will not leave you alone. The characters befriend and love you and give you tasks to do but if you do not do them, they turn nasty.”

The senior coroner for north Manchester has alerted councils and schools, with awareness messages being shared on Facebook.

Ben’s school, Philips High School in Whitefield, posted online: “A concern has recently been brought to our attention by HM Senior Coroner regarding the use by young people of the online game ‘Doki Doki’, also known as ‘Doki Doki Literature Club’.

“This is a psychological horror game with suicide as a main feature. A concern has been expressed that the game may trigger suicidal thoughts in young people who may be emotionally vulnerable. Please monitor and check your child’s internet use regularly and be mindful of the time spent.”

© Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited A grab from the website

Schools across Greater Manchester and Lancashire have also shared the warning.

Det Insp Jude Holmes, from GMP’s Public Protection Division, urged parents to regularly check websites their children are using, as some aren’t flagged up by usual firewall settings.

She said the force had been made aware of the game and said: “We believe this game is a risk to children and young people, especially those that are emotionally vulnerable and anyone with existing mental health concerns. It’s also really important to discuss with your children which games and apps are suitable, and ensure they understand why others aren’t appropriate to use.”

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Mr Walmsley added: “Children are curious but they can get sucked in. The characters are clearly designed to drag young lads in. It is a game that needs taking offline and destroying.

“Ben was intelligent and funny with a great sense of humour. He was a gent, loving and caring. We just want to find out why and at the moment, it’s all pointing to this game.”

The M.E.N. has contacted US creators Team Salvato for comment.</s>Parents and teachers have been told to be on guard against the dangers of Doki Doki Literature Club, after a 15-year-old boy who played the game committed suicide.

Head teachers in schools across the northern English city of Sunderland have been told to warn parents about the evils of Doki Doki Literature Club, after the death of a teenage boy who played the suicide-themed game.

The Manchester coroner’s office, which had been tasked with investigating the boy’s death, informed local authorities across the country about the dangers of the visual novel. This has led the Sunderland Safeguarding Children Board to issue a warning to teachers, who have in some cases passed the information on to parents.

While conceding that the game clearly states from the beginning that it is not suitable for children or people who are easily disturbed, concerned citizens have nevertheless claimed that the cute female characters appeal to children, expressing fear that the game’s dark themes may lead to further bloodshed.

Upon learning about the visual novel, the Manchester coroner said:

I believe the information is so concerning that this warrants my writing at this stage to make the local authorities aware of the issue so appropriate information can be disseminated. This has arisen due to the fact I am conducting the inquest into the death of a 15-year-old-boy who died earlier this year. Evidence obtained suggested he had used an online game called Doki Doki.

The chairman of The Sunderland Safeguarding Children Board, Sir Paul Ennals, stated:

The Sunderland Safeguarding Children Board and its national and regional partners all work together to protect children and young people and promote their welfare. Part of this is sharing concerns about issues and community safety messages on how they might be addressed. On this occasion it was to share information with schools about the death of a young person outside of our area, which the coroner at the inquest felt it was relevant to share with colleagues across the country.

The warning has apparently been heeded by some head teachers, with the head of Hetton Primary School, which teaches children aged 4 to 11, issuing a warning to parents on the school’s Facebook page:

This is the latest in a long line of moral panics in Great Britain concerning anime and video games that feature cute girls, although it may be the first case in which a game has had any links whatsoever to a child being harmed.

No information has been given about any other factors that may have led to the boy’s suicide.</s>An online game may pose a danger to children, a coroner has warned.

Local authorities across the country have received a warning over the interactive game Doki Doki Literature Club from Manchester’s coroner office, after an investigation into the death of a 15-year-old boy found evidence he had been playing it.

The Sunderland Echo reports that the coroner’s warning said: ‘I believe the information is so concerning that this warrants my writing at this stage to make the local authorities aware of the issue so appropriate information can be disseminated.

‘This has arisen due to the fact I am conducting the inquest into the death of a 15-year-old-boy who died earlier this year. Evidence obtained suggested he had used an online game called Doki Doki.’

The game is available on Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux and can be bought from the easily downloadable digital store Steam.

Dubbed a ‘visual novel’, it appears at first to be a lighthearted dating simulator involving students in a literature club but is in fact a psychological horror and features suicide as a plot device.

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The game’s horror aspects have led to it being dubbed the ‘most messed up horror game’ of 2017 by reviewers.

Doki Doki Literature Club does open with a disclaimer stating that it is not suitable for ‘children or the easily disturbed’ and on Steam carries the warning ‘content in this product may not be appropriate for all ages, or may not be appropriate for viewing at work’.

However it features anime style female characters which could appeal to youngsters as it gives the impression that the game is lighthearted and fun.

Hetton Primary School in Sunderland have issued a warning to parents on Facebook about Doki Doki Literature Club.

Headteacher Nicola Hill said: ‘I wanted to warn parents, especially those who might have older children, about this game.

‘The internet is a great thing, but it is also a minefield.’

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Doki Doki Literature Club consists of player reading the game’s story, making decisions after being prompted and also features a poetry writing mechanic.

First released in September 2017, the game was created by developer Dan Salvato and had been downloaded two million times by January of this year.

The Samaritans are at hand if you need help. You don’t have to be suicidal to call Samaritans. Whatever you’re going through, call them free any time from any phone on 116 123 (this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.</s>A father has hit out at an interactive psychological horror game which he believes 'dragged his son in' and contributed to this death.

Ben Walmsley, 15, from Radcliffe in Bury, Manchester, died in February and his father Darren claims the Doki Doki Literature Club could be linked to his death.

Police have now issued a warning over the free-to-play game, labelling it a 'risk to children and young people'.

Schools have also been alerted by a coroner ahead of a pre-inquest review into Ben's death on June 28.

While there is no evidence to suggest the game is directly linked to the youngster's death Mr Walmsley said he believes the 'dark' game 'dragged his son in'.

The 49-year-old revealed Ben was sketching Doki Doki characters and would be contacted by text message during the day and at night, often waking him up after putting his mobile number into the game.

Mr Walmsley said: 'Ben was growing up fast. It is hard for parents but this needs to be highlighted. There is no confirmation yet, but we believe that the game could be linked to Ben's death.

'Characters suggest things and you decide what to do. It drags you in and they make it very real.

'Ben did not speak about it, but parents need to be aware of this game and other similar games.

'It is free to download but once you get into it, it will not leave you alone. The characters befriend and love you and give you tasks to do but if you do not do them, they turn nasty.'

The Manchester coroner's office contacted local authorities across the country saying: 'I believe the information is so concerning that this warrants my writing at this stage to make the local authorities aware of the issue so appropriate information can be disseminated.

'This has arisen due to the fact I am conducting the inquest into the death of a 15-year-old-boy who died earlier this year. Evidence obtained suggested he had used an online game called Doki Doki.'

WHAT IS THE DOKI DOKI LITERATURE CLUB? The Doki Doki Literature Club features four animated young girls and a boy who wants to join a school literature club with them. It was developed in 2017 by game producers, Salvato, and is believed to have been downloaded more than two million times in the first four months. There are alternative endings depending on choices made during the course of the game, but it features graphic references and images of violence, suicide and self-harm. The game includes mental health issues, voices in the characters' heads, and violent scenes including a player's neck snapping. The game features a warning in bold online which reads: 'This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.'

Philips High School in Whitefield, where Ben was a pupil posted online: 'A concern has recently been brought to our attention by HM Senior Coroner regarding the use by young people of the online game 'Doki Doki', also known as 'Doki Doki Literature Club'.

'Please monitor and check your child's internet use regularly and be mindful of the time spent.'

Schools across Greater Manchester and Lancashire have also shared the warning.

She wrote: 'I wanted to warn parents, especially those who might have older children, about this game. 'The internet is a great thing, but it is also a minefield.'

Detective Inspector Jude Holmes, from Greater Manchester Police's Public Protection Division, said: 'GMP have been made aware of an online game called 'Doki Doki' or Doki Doki Literature Club which is a psychological game.

'We believe this game is a risk to children and young people especially those that are emotionally vulnerable and anyone with existing mental health concerns.

'I would ask parents to check the sites their children are using on a regular basis, as websites like this aren't flagged up by normal firewall settings.'

Mr Walmsley added: 'Children are curious but they can get sucked in. The characters are clearly designed to drag young lads in. It is a game that needs taking offline and destroying.

'Ben was intelligent and funny with a great sense of humour. He was a gent, loving and caring. We just want to find out why and at the moment, it's all pointing to this game.'

Mail Online has contacted US creators Team Salvato and the Manchester Coroner's Office for comment.</s>A heartbroken dad has issued a stark warning about the psychological impact of a 'dark' online game after the death of his 15-year-old son.

Police have also urged parents to be vigilant after concerns were raised about free-to-play game Doki Doki Literature Club, calling it a ‘risk to children and young people’.

Schools have also been alerted by a coroner investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 15-year-old Ben Walmsley in Radcliffe, Bury, in February, ahead of an inquest, the Manchester Evening News reports.

The game comes with the warning: “This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.”

It features four animated young girls and a boy who wants to join a school literature club.

There are alternative endings depending on choices made during the course of the game.

It features graphic references and images of violence, suicide and self-harm.

Ben’s father Darren Walmsley, 49, said he believes the ‘dark’ game ‘dragged his son in’ and revealed Ben was even sketching characters from the game.

He said the game was linked with his mobile phone and would be contacted by text message during the day and at night, often waking him up.

Mr Walmsley said: “Ben was growing up fast.

“It is hard for parents but this needs to be highlighted. There is no confirmation yet, but we believe that the game could be linked to Ben’s death.

“Characters suggest things and you decide what to do. It drags you in and they make it very real.

“Ben did not speak about it, but parents need to be aware of this game and other similar games.

“It is free to download but once you get into it, it will not leave you alone. The characters befriend and love you and give you tasks to do but if you do not do them, they turn nasty.”

The senior coroner for north Manchester has alerted councils and schools, with awareness messages being shared on Facebook.

A pre-inquest review is scheduled to take place this week.

Ben’s school, Philips High in Whitefield, posted online: “A concern has recently been brought to our attention by HM Senior Coroner regarding the use by young people of the online game ‘Doki Doki’, also known as ‘Doki Doki Literature Club’.

“This is a psychological horror game with suicide as a main feature. A concern has been expressed that the game may trigger suicidal thoughts in young people who may be emotionally vulnerable.

“Please monitor and check your child’s internet use regularly and be mindful of the time spent.”

Schools across Greater Manchester have also shared the warning.

Det Insp Jude Holmes, from GMP’s Public Protection Division, urged parents to regularly check websites their children are using, as some aren’t flagged up by usual firewall settings.

She said the force had been made aware of the game and said: “We believe this game is a risk to children and young people, especially those that are emotionally vulnerable and anyone with existing mental health concerns.

“It’s also really important to discuss with your children which games and apps are suitable, and ensure they understand why others aren’t appropriate to use.”

Mr Walmsley added: “Children are curious but they can get sucked in. The characters are clearly designed to drag young lads in.

“Ben was intelligent and funny with a great sense of humour. He was a gent, loving and caring. We just want to find out why and at the moment, it’s all pointing to this game.”

Doki Doki Literature Club was released last year by US-based developer Team Salvato.

It is free to download and play, and although it does carry a warning saying ‘this game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed’, there is no proof of age required.

Despite this, it uses graphics and a soundtrack that could potentially attract younger players.

Gamers describe it as a ‘visual novel’, meaning that the person playing it clicks through text to be taken through the game.

Along the way, the player is asked to complete simple tasks which can slightly alter the outcome.

Doki Doki Literature Club follows a boy who wants to join the club and his interaction with female characters.

All seems well at the start - but then things take a worrying turn, and themes of suicide, self-harm, mental ill-health and violence develop.

One gamer said they completed the game in three to four hours.

During that time they watched one character take their own life, and another stab themselves.

They told us the main intention of the Doki Doki Literature Club is to shock those playing it, by leading them to believe what they are playing is a nice, visual novel, before the game flips on its head into a psychological horror game.

A spokesman for the NSPCC urged parents to have regular conversations with their children about how to stay safe online.

A spokesperson said: “Children are spending more time than ever online and, while there may be benefits to this educationally and socially, it can be damaging if they are being exposed to inappropriate or upsetting content.

“It is vital that parents have regular conversations with their children about staying safe online – discussing which games and apps are suitable for them to use and helping them to understand why others are inappropriate. The NSPCC has a number of resources and guides available to help parents’ get to grips with their child’s online world.

“Young people should tell a trusted adult, such as a teacher or a parent, about anything that upsets them or makes them feel uncomfortable while they are online. Childline is also available at all times to provide children with help and advice.”

Anyone looking for further online safety advice can contact the O2 NSPCC online safety helpline on 0808 800 5002 or pop into an O2 store where an O2 Guru can help.

Young people can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk

Online safety advice is also available on the NSPCC website, while detailed information on various platforms can be found on the NSPCC’s Net Aware guide.

If you have been bereaved by suicide, support is available from Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – www.uk-sobs.org.uk .

* Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org</s>Manchester police let a teenage boy stay in the house of a suspected paedophile and gangster for two hours in order to "protect an undercover investigation."During the 2011 'Nixon' operation that was carried out to monitor suspect Dominic Noonan, police officers reportedly witnessed a 13-year-old boy walking into the paedophile's house, but were told not to take any action by their superiors, the Times has revealed Police officers at the scene were concerned and asked senior staff how they could intervene. It was suggested that a local officer could come in under the pretext that they had received a public call. But that was not carried out.The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) chose not to take legal action against the officer in charge, Dominic Sally, and his colleague, when the incident was first revealed to internal investigations by a whistleblower in 2014. On the contrary, Sally has since been promoted to the head of counterterrorism policing in northwest England.One of the police officers that allowed the teenage boy to enter the criminal's home claimed that he was later "haunted" by his decision not to intervene.inspector Michael Gladwin told GMP's Public Protection Investigation Unit earlier this month. Noonan was also previously convicted for robbery and firearm offences.Early last year, the case was referred back to the IPCC. According to a spokeswoman for the force, a misconduct meeting was held in March last year, and the IPCC concluded that "both officers' actions should be dealt with as a performance matter with appropriate action plans put in place."This is not the first time English police have come under fire for unprofessional conduct.</s>78 Total Public and Legal notices this week. Including the following: 1 Foreclosure Notices, 5 Notices of Suit, 25 Probate, 38 Other (Name Change Notices, Adoptions, Divorces, etc), 6 Storage & Public Auction Notices and 3 Notices in Spanish
Following the suicide of a teenage boy from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester in England police issue a public statement and the coroner sends notices to schools warning of the game Doki Doki Literature Club!.