The North Warwickshire Community Safety Partnership is rolling out a virtual reality programme to all North Warwickshire schools to educate young people on the realities of carrying a knife.
The new programme has been supported and funded by districts and boroughs countywide and by The Office of the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
The programme to be delivered is designed by award-winning VR specialists, Virtual Decisions, specialised in theatre, drama, and tech in education.
Using immersive VR experiences, participants can make their own decisions in real-time scenarios and specifically help young people explore the dangers and potential consequences of "carrying" without "telling" them what to do.
The programme has been offered to all secondary schools in the Borough and is available for delivery for free in all schools, youth organisations and clubs within Warwickshire. To find out more, please email alyssa.davies@stratford-dc.gov.uk.
Ray Jarvis, Chair of the Safer Communities Sub-Committee, said:
“The prevention of knife crime is a key focus of community safety partners in Warwickshire, and I am delighted that the VR programme is being rolled out to North Warwickshire schools.”
Warwickshire Police, with the support of partners, has launched a policing initiative called Operation Talkative to encourage reporting of knife carrying. Operation Talkative is asking for our community to share more information about anyone they know or hear about in possession of a knife.
If you have information or concerns about someone carrying a knife, please report it to Warwickshire Police by going to www.warwickshire.police.uk/report or call 101 and quote Operation Talkative. If someone is carrying a knife at the current time, call 999. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org