Using Virtual Reality to Enable Emotional Engagement Around Knife Crime in Young People

The carrying and use of knives by young people represents significant public and political concerns in the United Kingdom and educational interventions have the potential to promote behavioural change in relation to knife crime behaviours. Here, we first describe the creation of a novel virtual reality immersive film – RELOADED – designed to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives. Co-created with secondary-school students, RELOADED explores how one victim’s story can enable stronger emotional connections and better understandings about knife crime in young people. Next, we conducted a preliminary qualitative assessment of engagement with RELOADED among students ( n = 16) and teachers and professionals ( n = 6) in a school environment, with a view to understanding whether RELOADED can be deployed to improve attitudes towards knife crime in young people. Thematic analysis of interview data identified five inter-connected themes relating to engagement with the environment, the role of the individual, the importance of support networks, the inevitability of knife crime, and the significance of a true story. Our findings underscore the potential of VR and immersive storytelling in fostering understanding among young people concerning complex social issues, such as knife crime.