The exhibition featuring human avatars wearing digitally reproduced police uniforms dating as far back as 1839 will launch at the West Midlands Police Museum on Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham at the end of the year.

The project, called ‘Fashion Police’, will see the museum join forces with games, technology and fashion students from Birmingham City University (BCU).

Fashion students will recreate 24 historically significant police uniforms, from the original 1839 Peelers uniform to modern clothing, while computer science experts will develop meta-human ‘avatars’ by reviewing interviews and documents historical.

The uniforms and avatars will then be presented in an exhibition at the Museum.

The project was made possible thanks to a £247,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Corinne Brazier, Head of Heritage at the Museum, said: “It’s so exciting to see the stories and photographs come to life and move like digital avatars.

“By using technology to present the story in a new and exciting way, we can help people connect with the characters and understand who they were and what they went through.

“Our relationship with BCU’s College of Computing and College of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles gives students real experience of working to a specification and manufacturing bespoke products to produce something high quality for the museum. “

Professor Carlo Harvey, BCU Area Leader at the College of Computing, said: “By studying digital cultural heritage, we learn more about the people who wore the uniforms and the perceptions associated with them, including family, victims and perpetrators. »

“We help people understand policing through the stories behind the uniforms. »

A fashion show featuring 11 uniforms will launch the exhibition in November, while video games students will also create a digital version for people to watch using virtual reality.