Simulating the Effects of Reassurance Policing on Fear of Crime Using a Situational Behavioural Measure.

• In Event: POLWG Panel 20. Everyday Policing: Managing Conflict, Reassurance, Community Welfare and Public Service Delivery

Abstract

This study explores the potential of virtual reality (VR) as a tool for analysing and informing sensitive public policing decisions. As part of the E-MERVEIL project, an immersive 3D simulation of Lausanne’s city centre was developed to examine public perceptions of insecurity and assess the impact of varying levels of police presence. 62 participants navigated VR scenarios depicting social and physical disorder, while their physiological and behavioral responses were monitored. For this task, eye-tracking and coordinates-tracking was employed. Cognitive and emotional dimensions of Fear of Crime were evaluated through a post-experiment survey.
Findings indicate that VR effectively identifies factors contributing to perceived insecurity, such as active social interactions, vulnerability, and previous experiences of victimisation. However, increased police visibility did not consistently alleviate these concerns; in some cases, heightened police presence was perceived as a sign of latent danger, exacerbating fear. These results give a glimpse of the complexity of emotional and cognitive processes in urban safety perception and highlight the need to broaden research to include behavioral responses as actionable indicators. VR emerges as a valuable tool for helping to design targeted interventions in controlled yet plausible environments, offering new insights into urban policing strategies and citizen reassurance measures.

Author

• Edoardo Cocco, University of Lausanne