Pupils turn detective in knife crime scheme

It is hoped the school children will spread the anti-knife crime message among their peers

School children have been examining mock crime scenes in an immersive scheme encouraging them to become anti-knife crime champions in their communities.

Fourteen pupils from across Bradford have been taking part in this week's Junior Detective Programme, led by West Yorkshire Police.

A fictional scenario involving knife crime, created by experienced detectives, is used to raise students’ awareness of the consequences of serious violence and criminal exploitation linked to gangs.

PC Pete Homer said it was hoped the youngsters would spread the message to their friends, adding: "We want our kids to listen to other kids."

Real police officers took part in the exercise which involved the setting up of a fictional crime scene in the grounds of the University of Bradford

PC Homer, normally based inside HMP Prison Leeds as part of West Yorkshire Police's offender management team, is leading the project which he also ran in Leeds.

He said: "There's been a stabbing on campus at Bradford University, obviously purely fictional.

"What we're trying to do is give them an immersive week of learning around how to work a fictional case.

"But also to go back to their respective schools with messages around knife crime and what they've learned."

As well as the university crime scene, the students have met surgeons from Bradford Royal Infirmary, visited Bradford Crown Court and will get a certificate of achievement at Bradford City's football ground later.

PC Homer added: "The idea is that the younger the pupils involved in the scheme the better, but the content has to be tailored to that age group as well.

"We believe that the change around knife crime has to come from within, so it's like a peer-to-peer learning model."

Gemma Moon from Titus Salt School said the course would have a lasting impact on pupils

The students, all aged 13 and 14, are from Titus Salt School, Oasis Academy and the Tong Leadership Academy.

Emma Moon, leader of personal development at Titus Salt School, said: "We do a lot of knife crime lessons and assemblies and awareness kind of things in school, but I don't think anything really compares to this kind of first-hand experience.

"I think it's just been a really exciting, worthwhile and really different experience.

"And I believe that does have more of a lasting impact than anything we can preach to them in the classroom."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.