A young person using a virtual reality headset
A virtual reality (VR) project has been delivered to more than 1,000 young people in Merseyside, educating them on the realities and consequences of carrying a knife.
The immersive experience was developed by Everton in the Community (EitC), Ludovico and Juice Immersive, with funding from Merseyside Police and the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell.
The 360-degree VR experience helps young people explore the dangers and potential consequences of carrying a knife from a first-person perspective.
Filmed at a local location in Stanley Park, and featuring actors from across Liverpool City Region and EitC programmes – the piece has been shaped and developed by the charity’s participants to maximise an authentic experience which relates to young people living in Merseyside.
Participants are invited to make decisions in response to what they witness, with their choices shaping the outcome of the experience. The aim is to help them understand the dangers and long-term impact of carrying a knife.
Merseyside Police officers feature in the VR experience, lending authenticity to the scenarios and helping to reinforce the real-world consequences of knife crime. Officers also supported the development of the project, ensuring it reflects the challenges they face on the frontline and some of the situations that young people may encounter.
The success of the project was celebrated at an event hosted by EitC, coinciding with the launch of Sceptre (19-25 May 2025), the national week of action targeting knife crime for UK police forces.
This initiative has been funded by Merseyside Police and the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, through the Hotspot Response Fund – a government-backed programme aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour and serious violence in identified hotspot areas.
Before reiterating the success of the initiative, the room also heard about EitC and Merseyside Police’s next step in their partnership with a new criminal exploitation VR experience due to be introduced.
Our in-depth track record of working with young people from all walks of the city at Everton in the Community enables us to know how to deliver these key positive messages effectively to our participants. Our latest project with Merseyside Police is another example of that, through utilising fantastic technological innovation which brings that message to life in a captivating, and ground-breaking way.
This piece not only enforces an important message to young people in a unique and powerful way, it also amplifies our vital strategic partnership with Merseyside Police which aims to build stronger communities and tackle key social issues prevalent in our region. We’re now entering into the next, exciting step of the partnership through a new 360-degree immersive experience which is reiterating another crucial life lesson to young people.
EitC’s Youth Inclusion Manager, Jen Harden
Knife crime has a devastating impact on victims, their families, and our communities.
We are always looking for new ways to reach more young people and virtual reality is a great example of how we can harness technology to create engaging experiences that connect with them on a level they are familiar with, to deliver powerful messages that prevent incidents before they occur, ultimately saving lives.
Enforcement alone is not the solution. We are committed to changing outcomes and that’s why our Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, is dedicated to funding initiatives that educate young people about the severe consequences of carrying a knife, while also addressing the root causes of serious violence.
Merseyside Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell
This innovative VR project is a powerful tool in our efforts to prevent knife crime. By immersing young people in realistic, first-person scenarios, it helps them understand the real-life consequences of carrying a knife in a way that’s both impactful and thought-provoking.
We are proud to support this initiative alongside Everton in the Community, and it’s encouraging to see so many young people across Merseyside engaging with it. Education and early intervention are key to keeping our communities safe, and projects like this are vital in helping young people make informed, positive choices.
Superintendent Phil Mullally, Merseyside’s Lead for Serious Violence and Knife Crime