WARNING ZONE is the flagship project of Leicestershire & Rutland Crimebeat Ltd and was launched on 17th October 2006.

WARNING ZONE aims to provide an outstanding Educational Resource, teaching vital safety messages to Year 6 pupils and other vulnerable groups. This safe and interactive experience brings together expertise and support from across the public and private sectors to take a positive step towards the prevention of unnecessary injury and death.

The Zone provides schools with an opportunity to help pupils understand the dangers they may encounter in their everyday lives and also develops the concept of personal responsibility. At 10 years of age, children are beginning to take decisions that not only affect their safety; their actions can also affect the lives of other people. Our young visitors learn that they are responsible for their actions under criminal law and can be arrested for unlawful behaviour.

Why is the zone needed?

Children at risk of injury!

Accidental injury is on of the biggest single cause of death in the UK for children over the age of one. Every accident and emergency department could testify to the alarming number of injuries and deaths occurring within the most vulnerable groups in our society. They also know that many of these could have been prevented.
Facts:

• Every year over 2 million children will visit hospital after having an accident. From the age of seven children become more likely to be injured when out and about than at home. (CAPT April 2009)
• Across the UK, 2977 children were killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents in 2006. (CAPT, May 2008)
• In 2006, 70% of all fires in Leicestershire were started deliberately!
• About 1/4 of the cyclists killed, and 1/3 of those injured, are children. (ROSPA June 2005)

The centre also has an anti-social behaviour theme running through each scenario. All young visitors learn that at the age of 10 they become criminally responsible for themselves and the consequences of their actions.