It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better: Individual and Group-Level Effects of a VR-Based Training to Prevent Ethnic Profiling in Policing

Bas Böing, Peter W. De Vries, van den Berg, Ellen Giebels, Section of Psychology of Conflict, Risk and Safety, University of Twente, The Netherlands, Section of Knowledge and Research, Dutch National Police, Netherlands Police academy, The Netherlands, Section of Cognition, and Education, University of Twente, The Netherlands

Police Quarterly

Published online on July 14, 2026

Abstract

Police Quarterly, Ahead of Print.
This study evaluates the short- and long-term effects of a novel, immersive training programme designed to increase police officers’ willingness and ability to prevent ethnic profiling. The programme combines virtual reality (VR) simulations with group-...