Cops use Games to Encourage Good Behaviour

SPOnG is more concerned than most about anti-social behaviour on the streets of Wakefield and Leeds. This is because it's a problem many of use have to deal with on a daily basis. We also have an extra-added problem, because we are lily-livered liberals and not rabid fascists, and we hope that our local bobbies can deal with youngster's bad behaviour without slapping ASBOs out willy nilly.

With all this in mind, it's good to see that West Yorkshire Police, in a rather forward-thinking move, has commissioned Leeds-based communications agency, Dubit to produce a new web-based game designed to encourage positive social behaviour amongst children.

Well, SPOnG supposes that anything which keeps them off the smack has to be applauded.

Called City Zone, your player can wander round the 2D side-on, flick-screen landscape, which is realistically filthy and full of criminals. You are tasked with guiding your little fellow around the local dodgy Housing Estate and the crime-ridden City Centre, where you are encouraged to stop thieves, muggings and stem the rising tide of filthy drug abusers. Plus do other nice stuff, like rescuing old ladies cats and whatnot.

West Yorkshire Police Schools Officer, Inspector Janet Balance, said of the game: “[it’s] the first of its kind for the police service…young people will learn that they can contribute positively towards their community, avoid stereotyping and the prejudices around this. All of this is done in a very fun way and requires good IT skills and decision making to successfully play the game."

The game was trialled at the Prince Henry Grammar School, in Otley, where Nick Cook, head of Year 8, said: "We are very proud to be working in partnership with West Yorkshire Police. Being the chosen school to help the Force launch a highly innovative and challenging website has been both an honour and a pleasure.

"The aim of the website is to encourage pupils in the lower school (from 11 to 14 years old) to become better citizens which ties in nicely with the focus of the school's aims."

Mr Cook said the website had been enthusiastically received by more than 200 year eight students. "They found it exciting with many challenging aspects," he said. "A success all round and even I enjoyed a couple of games."

SPOnG has given the game a quick blast, and whilst it’s no Mario Kart, it is entertaining and, more importantly, we still applaud West Yorkshire Police for trying to do something which shows initiative in educating school children.

You can check out the game for yourself at www.wycityzones.com.

If you are unlucky enough to live in a run-down, drug-afflicted area of West Yorkshire, then SPOnG advises playing videogames all the time and shopping on-line. If you must leave the house, learn a lesson from the WYcityzones game. It’s a war out there.