Virtual reality police officers will help children prevent crime before it is committed.

The district-wide scheme aims to educate pupils about citizenship and the law.

With the launch of a new CD-Rom, West Yorkshire Police are going back to the classroom to teach pupils about issues, ranging from road safety and home security to health education and the role of the law. Using graphics and photographic images installed on the disc, pupils can join an officer out on the beat to see what a typical day involves, help spot a crime being committed and find out how much they'd remember if put in the witness box.

And from a virtual reality police station, pupils can choose to go on to the Houses of Parliament, where the speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd, and MPs Ann Taylor and Gillian Shephard explain how the laws of the land are made.

The disc is the brain-child of a team headed by youth and schools liaison officer, Inspector John Mason, who has worked on it with education liaison officer, Alan Perkins and graphic artist, Bob Forster and with the help of educational software specialists TAG Developments.

It is hoped that teachers of pupils up to 14-years-old will incorporate the disc - which is free - into their teaching schedules, with police officers being invited into the classroom at appropriate stages, to further develop areas of interest.

Graham Moore, chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, said: "We believe this disc will develop the excellent relationships already enjoyed with schools in our county." He added: "We hope that through Learning For Today, young people will develop life skills to help them contribute to Living for Tomorrow."

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