Virtual Decisions, an educational VR company, is calling on policymakers and educators to support the immediate nationwide rollout of its ground-breaking programme, Virtual Decisions: KNIVES, to every secondary school in the UK. The programme aims to tackle the ongoing crisis of knife crime among young people by providing an innovative, immersive tool that promotes safer decision-making.
Knife crime continues to devastate communities and claim young lives across the UK, but Virtual Decisions: KNIVES offers an effective intervention by allowing young people to experience the consequences of their decisions in a virtual, safe environment. The programme uses virtual reality (VR) to place participants in realistic, high-pressure scenarios where they explore alternative solutions to conflict, learning how to resolve issues without resorting to violence.
Proven Impact and Results
Virtual Decisions: KNIVES has already impacted over 20,000 young people, delivering proven results. In surveys following the experience:
- 96% of participants agreed that carrying a knife is more dangerous than not carrying one.
- 91% of participants reported that they were more likely to think about the consequences of knife crime.
The programme is not just an educational tool; it is a powerful life-saving resource. Commissioned by the Police and Home Office, it is grounded in the psychology and neuroscience of adolescent decision-making. Virtual Decisions: KNIVES was developed in consultation with young people, making it particularly effective in engaging its target audience.
Dr. Stephanie Burnett Heyes, Assistant Professor at the University of Birmingham’s School of Psychology, highlighted the programme’s success: “Research funded by the British Academy and conducted by the University of Birmingham showed that Virtual Decisions allowed young people to explore making decisions in a safe virtual space. Focus group participants described how they gained valuable insights into the risks of knife crime, developing feelings of empathy and collective responsibility.”
Extended Learning Package for Continued Engagement
The VR experience is supported by a six-part Anti-Knife Crime Extended Learning Package, designed by trauma-informed experts. This supplementary package ensures that the lessons from the VR programme are reinforced through continued learning and discussions, equipping educators, youth workers, and police officers with the tools needed to engage young people in meaningful conversations about the dangers of knife crime.
A Call for Immediate Action
Stuart Lane, co-founder of Virtual Decisions, stressed the urgency of implementing this programme across the UK: “Knife crime is an urgent issue that continues to tear communities apart. Virtual Decisions: KNIVES has already proven its ability to shift attitudes and behaviour. We now need policymakers to ensure that every secondary school has access to this life-saving programme. If we don’t act now, more young lives will be lost.”
Youth justice professionals and community leaders have already voiced strong support for the programme, but without wider access, the opportunity to prevent more tragic deaths due to knife crime will be missed. The call for a nationwide rollout is clear: Virtual Decisions: KNIVES offers a solution that can reduce knife crime and ultimately save young lives.
To get involved and learn more about how Virtual Decisions: KNIVES can be rolled out in schools, Virtual Decisions offers free consultations via its online platform. Together, we can help to combat knife crime, making the UK a safer place for future generations.