A computer game aimed at turning teenagers into model citizens was launched by police yesterday.

The website aims to encourage children to respect others and their environment.

It was launched by West Yorkshire Police at Prince Henry's Grammar School in Otley.

Pupil James Robertson, 13, said: "It encourages you to do good things and good turns for people who need it. There is one task you must complete where you have to help some children from other countries feel welcome. It made me think about how they must feel."

Michael Baylis, 13, added: "I think it's a great game for the school because it helps pupils to become kinder and helps them to solve problems. Wycityzones is a game in which you have to clean up the city and help people with their problems and so they get more educated and understand what's wrong and what's right."

Designed by Yeadon-based Dubit International, www.wycityzones.com encourages players to achieve certain aims while getting across key messages supplied by the police.

Police schools officer Inspector Janet Ballance said it was an amazing project and the first of its kind for the police.

"It can also be played independently away from school.

"Young people will learn that they can contribute positively towards their community, avoid stereotyping and the prejudices around this. It is done in a very fun way and requires good IT skills and decision-making to successfully play the game."

Insp Ballance said that the game would be available free to all schools.

The game was designed by Yeadon-based Dubit International. The company's Ian Douthwaite said: "We are pleased to work with West Yorkshire Police, especially with this project as much of our work revolves around young people and community safety issues.

"I am particularly pleased with the characterisation and graphics of the game and believe we have produced an exciting and challenging game for young people to enjoy and learn from."

Nick Cook, head of Year 8 at Prince Henry's, 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."

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