The exhibition, which features human avatars wearing digitally reproduced police uniforms dating back to 1839, will open at the West Midlands Police Museum on Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham at the end of the year.

Dubbed ‘Fashion Police’, the project will see the Museum join forces with gaming, 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Peelers uniform to today’s clothing, while computer experts will develop metahuman ‘avatars’ by studying interviews and historical documents.

The uniforms and avatars will later be featured in an exhibition at the Museum.

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

Corinne Brazier, the museum’s heritage manager, said: “It is so exciting to see stories and photographs come to life and circulate as digital avatars.

“By using technology to showcase history in this exciting new way, we can help people connect with the characters and understand who they are and what they went through.

“Our relationship with BCU’s College of Computing and the College of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles gives students short study time and real experience adapting products to produce something of high quality for the museum.”

BCU subject leader Professor Carlo Harvey from the College of Computing said: “By investigating digital cultural heritage, we learn about the people who wear the uniform and the perceptions associated with them, including family, victims and perpetrators. ”

“We help people understand the police through the stories behind the uniforms.”

The exhibition will kick off in November with a fashion show featuring 11 uniforms, and gaming students will use virtual reality to create a digital version that people can watch.