Police VR training helps fight crimes against women

Officers are being placed in the shoes of a woman travelling through Birmingham after dark

Virtual reality technology is being used to train new police officers to provide an insight into male crimes against women.

West Midlands Police has said it is the first force in the UK to partner with training provider Calico, to deliver the interactive sessions to 700 new recruits by April.

Officers wear virtual reality headsets, which places them in the shoes of a woman travelling through Birmingham after dark.

The force said the classes were part of a wider approach to address crimes such as stalking, harassment, rape and domestic abuse.

The simulation allows officers to make decisions throughout, following four different routes through the city via park, taxi, and bus.

In each scene, users hear the real voices and lived experiences of women, which helps them fully immerse themselves in the experience and understand the incident from the victim's point of view.

West Midlands Police said its male officers were benefiting the most from the project.

PC Aaron Whittingslow said: "I've never experienced the world as a woman does.

"The session has thrown me into that world through the virtual reality goggles and we've had some good discussions with female colleagues.

"It's really made me think about how I'd support victims, how my actions may be perceived and, as a new dad, the kind of world my daughter will grow up in."

The force said while colleagues already completed a variety of training to ensure they were able to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), this scheme would better equip officers to protect victims.

Assistant Chief Constable Jen Mattinson, force lead for VAWG said: "I'm proud to see West Midlands Police leading the way by providing training opportunities like this, in our committed approach to tackling violence against women and girls.

"This session is one of many tools that we are investing in as a force, to protect the communities we serve, and we will continually invest time, money and effort to combat VAWG."