Police to use virtual reality to steer kids away from crime

The Greater Manchester Police Force has launched a virtual reality (VR) scheme designed to teach schoolchildren how to become responsible and streetwise citizens.

The programme, called VR Crime Conquest, has been distributed on CD ROM to all 350 schools in the Greater Manchester area.

The project aims to make young people aware of situations where they might come across criminal activities such as mugging and joyriding by taking users through a series of events within a digital cityscape.

It is part of a coordinated effort to make citizens aware of the implications of the Crime and Disorder Act, which came into effect last January.

The programme - which was developed over two years at a cost of £50,000 - is sponsored by British Nuclear Fuels.

Attending the launch, and lending the project government endorsement, was Home Office minister, Kate Hoey. She praised the recall rate that children had achieved when using the CD ROM, saying: "It's vital that we use whatever tools are available in order to educate young people in the best ways of dealing with challenging and difficult situations. What better way than allowing them to learn in the safety of their own classrooms."

The police force intends to develop a second VR programme aimed at older teenagers, called The Life Simulator, which builds on and extends the scope of Crime Conquest.