Police are reporting pupils taking part in the Loves-Me-Not programme across Otago are more likely to talk to officers about abuse, being the abuser, or stepping in when they see their peers in trouble in an unhealthy relationship.
The programme is an initiative produced by the Sophie Elliott Foundation and the police.
The programme was a one-day work shop for year 12 pupils to explore healthy relationships and the some times difficult subject of relationship abuse and consent.
Sophie Elliott was murdered by ex-partner Clayton Weatherston in 2008.
The foundation, police and Ministry of Social Development created the safe relationship programme in 2013 in response to Miss Elliott’s death.
Sergeant John Hedges,of Dunedin, said what was of note was that people had been more inclined to come up to him and tell him of incidents.
"We get a lot of disclosures. I’ve been doing it for four years and they approach me and talk to me about things they wouldn’t normally talk about."
He expected the programme would lead to an increase in reporting of violent offences as people became educated about what violence was.
He did not expect to see a decrease in violent offending, as the programme could not address wider society problems such as economic stresses, but
people would be empowered by knowing they would be taken seriously by the police if they did report violence.
In the past, the school curriculum touched on how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and having babies, but nothing was available nationwide targeting consent or healthy relationships.
"It was all about pregnancy ... the fear of pregnancy."
St Kevin’s College in Oamaru was one of the trial schools for the programme. The school’s senior deans, Margaret Burton and Marc Nyika, believed the programme made an important contribution to its pupils.
Mrs Burton said the programme was about equipping pupils with another tool they could use in life.
"It’s a good time to do it now. They’re at an age where they’re going to get into relationships. They’re at an age where they can understand the rights and wrongs."
The captain of the school’s First XV rugby team, Tama Wooldridge (16), said the relationship scenarios the programme taught showed the realities from a gender perspective and how important communication was.
"It’s good to have that session about consent, because at school you don’t get taught about consent or what to do."
Pupil Molly Kay (16) said the pro gramme addressed how people become desensitised to negative portrayals of all genders and relationships.
The programme taught people how to get out of unhealthy relationships and how to fix those situations.
Classmate Georgia Oakes (16) said the session engaged teenagers in an inclusive way and got them thinking about solutions to violent situations.
Mid-South Island Women’s Refuge and Family Safety Services manager Dawn Rangi-Smith backed the programme.
"Anything that educates young women and young guys about unheal thy relationships is a good thing."
Sophie Elliott Foundation trustee Bill O’Brien said all the evidence the programme was having a positive effect on participants was anecdotal, but it was consistent.
"The information we’re getting back from students, people in education, the police and the parents, our conversations, is Loves-Me-Not is making a difference."
The former Dunedin policeman said the programme was revised after each year it ran, but now it was at a point where it was "streamlined".
He said year 12 pupils were the audience because not every pupil made it to year 13, but the majority made it to year 12, so there was a greater chance at giving a large percentage of the population education about healthy relationships.
The younger classes were not yet considered because the majority were not likely to be in serious relationships, he said.
Lesley Elliott, Sophie Elliott’s mother, said she wished the programme existed when her daughter was going through high school.
She and Sophie just thought Weatherston’s behaviour was unusual.
They were in no way prepared for it or understood what it actually was.
"I didn’t recognise it and she didn’t."
