A powerful new virtual-reality film has been produced as part of Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews' ongoing commitment to reducing knife and violent crime, a key priority in his Police and Crime Plan.

In the first project of its kind in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, the PCC has teamed up with the Violence Reduction Network (VRN) to fund a fully immersive film as an early intervention for children aged nine to 11 to be viewed via VR headsets.

The innovative film, which has been co-produced with children, teachers, educational representatives and a Behavioural Change Theory (BCT) specialist, will be accompanied by an educational toolkit to be delivered in the classroom by teachers which embraces key areas of the curriculum including Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE), online safety and computing.

It will support peer-led learning in the style of the VRN's successful Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme which enables children to identify and safely challenge harmful behaviour. National studies have shown interventions of this type to have a positive impact on reducing violence.

The film, created by First Car Ltd and officially launched at ICE Live - the UK's only road and community safety VR roadshow - promotes the safe use of social media and explores how young people can become active bystanders to protect their friends.

It also supports the identification and development of healthy and supportive relationships whilst aiming to demonstrate the link between virtual and physical spaces and how issues can escalate.

Through the film, children and young people are encouraged to take safe action if they feel something is wrong.

Mr Matthews said: "This is a real first for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and I am pleased - and proud - to be trailblazing the project. 

"This is a fresh approach to tackling and preventing violence and I'm pleased to be working in partnership with the VRN to deliver this film. It's vital we talk to young people using a medium and language with which they easily identify - hence thefocus on virtual reality in this project.

"I am determined to root out the causes of violence to reduce violence on our streets. There is a growing body of evidence showing social media as a driving influence behind street violence with events online escalating into the real world. We must take action to help young people make safer decisions. It's important to do everything possible to prevent them from becoming both victims and perpetrators of violence in the future."

Data from the VRN shows 10 to 14-year-olds are one of the groups most at risk of perpetrating and becoming victims of violence. This is supported by external research by Crest Advisory, the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) and OFCOM surrounding phone ownership and social media usage among five to 11-year-olds, showing an increasing tendency among the age group to refer to events which happened in the real world or online platforms interchangeably.

For this reason, the VR film is aimed at children aged nine to 11 who are or are about to enter their transitional phase into secondary school. Alongside the educational package, young people will be armed with a stronger understanding of safer online practices to reduce harmful behaviour.

The script and content for the film was influenced by the interactions observed at focus groups of nine to 11-year-olds, helping to make it feel 'real' to the target audience.

The Commissioner's team is now working with school networks to raise awareness of the project and support a young people's forum to develop the package still further.

The PCC and VRN are currently in the process of appointing a provider to develop and deliver the educational toolkit which is expected to be piloted in a selection of primary schools next year. A package of VR learning equipment has already been jointly procured to help deliver the training.