Scopic_Labs

Police forces around the world are increasingly facing allegations of ethnic profiling. This is defined as the unfair use of such grounds as race, religion and nationality in police checks and surveillance.

Over the years, law enforcement agencies have invested heavily in professionalizing police work to prevent ethnic profiling. However, attempts to improve the knowledge and skills of police officers to eliminate potential biases toward certain demographic groups have proven largely ineffective.

However, since 2019 the Dutch Police, in close cooperation with ScopicLabs and the University of Twente, have been working on a new approach to make the sensitive topic of "Ethnic Profiling" discussable within the Dutch Police.

The methodology (VR experience in combination with guided reflection) has scientifically proven impact on the behavior of officers on the street.

Officers immerse themselves in a secure film realistic environment alongside colleagues, experiencing scenarios from a firsthand perspective. These scenarios, ranging from "train station squares" to high-risk political zones, mirror real-world situations every officer encounters. The tool challenges participants in their professionalism and requires them to make decisions under pressure, ensuring genuine, instinctive responses.

Upon completing the VR experience, officers receive a unique code to share with a moderator, paving the way for open, non-judgmental discussions with peers.

This innovative training approach has already been adopted by 30,000 police officers across the Netherlands and Belgium and we are currently finalising a German version for the German police. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, not only for its effectiveness but also its cost-efficiency compared to traditional training methods.

All individual feedback is anonymised, with data used solely to refine and improve the training process. We are fully compliant with GDPR standards.

For a deeper dive and a comprehensive scientific report from the University Twente, please visit www.surveillance.com.[embed]https://vimeo.com/586728895/1a433e6949[/embed]

Scopic_Labs, University Twente and the Dutch police have joined forces in another promising and innovative VR project; "Racist Stereotype Threat - Deep Fake".

By using this technology it is possible to change the appearance of actors in 360 degrees - film realistic - VR experiences. By doing so we can change just one important element of an experience. Deepfake technology in 360film/VR enables us not only to assess racial bias, but also to determine how cops respond to allegations of such.

We can now design randomised controlled tests (RCT) through which we can determine the existence of e.g. the phenomenon Racist Stereotype Threat (officers being concerned about being seen as racist, and consequently deviating from risk taking).

The VR application acts as a bridge between boring theory and the exiting reality. Through the VR training students actively engage and gain practical knowledge, establishing a foundation of visual anchors that enhance comprehension and retention of important theoretical aspects of priority driving.

This innovative approach greatly amplifies the efficacy of learning and applying theoretical concepts that might otherwise appear uninteresting.

Beyond its educational advantages, VR training also nurtures a culture of open dialogue among students. It encourages constructive peer feedback, particularly concerning driving skills and behaviors.