West Midlands Police Introduces VR Training for Gender-Based Violence Awareness

• Incoming officers use virtual reality to understand public safety concerns from women's perspectives.
• Created with Calico, the sessions include real voices and interactive scenarios based in Birmingham.

A new training program at West Midlands Police uses virtual reality to help new recruits understand the realities of violence against women. Developed with Calico, an award-winning Birmingham-based arts and activism group, the experience complements broader instruction on offenses including stalking, domestic abuse, and harassment.

Trainees experience scenarios through the eyes of a woman navigating different parts of Birmingham after dark. They hear community voices and make choices throughout the session, designed to deepen understanding and support future investigative work.

“We believe that rebuilding trust starts with empathy. That’s why we created this training: to help officers understand the everyday realities of gendered violence from the perspective of those most affected," said Co-Founder and Director of Calico, Daz Scott, in an official news release.

The initiative is expected to reach about 700 recruits by spring 2026. Assistant Chief Constable Jen Mattinson said the initiative complements other efforts to ensure all staff are prepared to identify and prevent violence against women and girls.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Virtual reality has often been described as an "empathy machine", and this training from West Midlands Police and Calico brings that idea to life. By placing users in someone else’s experience, it encourages a shift in perspective that traditional video-based methods struggle to achieve.

Source: West Midlands Police