Discussing the elephant in the room: Addressing ethnic profiling with virtual reality in police training

This dissertation investigates how police officers engage with reform initiatives aimed at preventing ethnic profiling, and which factors influence their willingness and ability to participate. Drawing on sociopsychological literature on organisational change and resistance, the research examines how individual attitudes, professional identities, and team dynamics shape participation in reform efforts.

Interviews and survey data revealed four main forms of resistance to reform: lack of knowledge (“don’t know”), indifference (“don’t care”), moral objection (“don’t want”), and fear of colleagues’ reactions (“don’t dare”). Officers who identified with a “warrior” mindset, leaned politically to the right, or reported low job satisfaction were generally less open to reform. These findings underline the importance of psychologically safe learning environments that enable officers to reflect and engage without fear of judgment.

To address these barriers, a new and innovative training programme was developed, combining immersive 360° virtual reality simulations of police stops with peer-led dialogues. The VR component encouraged self-awareness by illustrating how bias can shape decision-making, while the structured discussions promoted open dialogue and critical reflection among peers.

A longitudinal experimental study compared single-session, repeated-session, and control groups. Results showed that repeated training over three months led to deeper and more lasting improvements in knowledge, self-efficacy, psychological safety, and support for reform than a one-off session. Temporary declines in confidence and comfort indicated that confronting bias initially caused discomfort, but this proved to be a productive stage in the learning process.

The dissertation concludes that sustained, reflective learning (rather than short, information-based training) is crucial to enhance officers’ participation in reform. Integrating experiential technology with peer dialogue offers a promising strategy to foster lasting behavioural and cultural change within police organisations.