Student Film used by Police and reviewed in Plymouth Herald

A FILM highlighting the dangers of hoax calls has been made by 3rd Year Media Arts student Joe Plant with the help of city school pupils.

It came about after the conviction in January of teenager Rea Bothma who admitted making more than 20 hoax calls to police about fights in Honicknowle.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order on Bothma under the supervision of the probation service.

PCSO Kate Stanley, Honicknowle neighbourhood officer, said she wanted to highlight the risks and dangers hoax calls created and contacted Plymouth University for help.

She said: "It's all grown from an acorn of an idea. We called up the university to put us in touch with a student, Joe Plant, who was studying media and wanted to make the film as part of his dissertation.

"With our help he linked in with students from St Boniface school who did research about hoax calls in the country and they've gone on to create some impressive posters.

"The idea was to give information to youngsters, warning them about hoax calls and find a way of getting it across to them.

"The young people understand the kind of media message they want, rather than it being imposed upon them by adults.

"It's a very good film – it's very impactive. I think it's dark enough not to be scary, but enough to hold young people's interest.

"The main thing is I think it will get the message across.

"It's all well for us to tell youngsters about this, but I think because this has been made by youngsters they will connect with it better."

PCSO Stanley said she plans to get the short film screened at The Vue cinema at Barbican Leisure Park in the near future.

The film will then be launched on Devon and Cornwall police's YouTube, Bebo and Facebook site.

Link to article in Plymouth Herald