Pupils experience Victorian justice system first-hand

TdaNews Direct
Published: 19 November, 2007

A group of primary school pupils will experience the Victorian justice system first-hand as part of a historical learning exercise.

Yorkshire pupils will see "the dark side" of justice at a recreation of old Victorian police cells at Leeds Town Hall this month.

Primary school students will be "locked up" in a row of dank cells and "detained" as part of the council's Crime and Punishment project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which aims to give children a hands-on history experience.

Fiona Spiers, regional manager for the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "The Crime and Punishment project provides a fantastic opportunity for young people to experience the past. This hands-on approach to history helps embed the importance of heritage by giving young people a flavour of what life used to be like.

"It is so important for young people to learn about their past and Crime and Punishment is a successful and innovative way of engaging people with history."

As part of the visit, children will get the opportunity to act out a trial, taking on the parts of the accused, witnesses, judge and jury.