Knife crime has once again taken centre stage as one of the most pressing issues across the UK. With alarming statistics showing a rise in violent incidents, the Government has pledged to take stronger action.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was recently joined by Hollywood star Idris Elba and experts from the police, technology companies, sporting organisations, the health service, and victims’ families, to attend the first annual knife crime summit to tackle the issue.

Their goal? To stop young people from being drawn into violent gangs and to work collectively towards creating safer communities.

At Cornerstone VR, a tech-for-good company, we are equally committed to this cause and work with partners worldwide to support children and young people facing challenges like these.

While we support the Government’s focus, including making it harder to access dangerous weapons and banning zombie-style knives and machetes, we’re addressing a different, yet equally crucial side to the problem. Using trauma-informed VR films, we are tackling the psychological and social drivers that can lead young people into these situations.

In the West Midlands, where our HQ is based, knife related offences have surpassed those in London for four consecutive years according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). A staggering 41% of all homicides in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023 were knife related. In response to these concerning trends, we’re developing a series of immersive films that offer a fresh perspective on the issue.

One of our key findings from working with partners, including police officers, social workers and educators, is that young people are often driven to carry knives out of fear and anxiety, not necessarily a desire to commit violence.

Social media and smartphones amplify this constant pressure, leaving adolescents with little respite from these feelings of insecurity. Our films explore these root causes, illustrating how quickly a young person can find themselves criminalised and trapped in a frightening adult world.

Our commitment at Cornerstone VR aligns with the Government’s goal to tackle knife crime, but our approach targets the heart of the problem – the trauma, fear and anxiety that push young people into dangerous situations.

By equipping professionals with the tools to understand these experiences, we believe we can make a tangible difference in preventing a further rise in knife crime and help young people make safer, more informed decisions.

If you’d like to learn more about how virtual reality is transforming professional practice, and about our upcoming knife crime VR films visit www.cornerstonevr.co.uk/knife-crime or drop us an email on: info@cornerstonevr.co.uk

Let’s continue working together to create real, lasting change.