Holographic police officer guards peace and tranquillity: would it be effective in Budapest too? – videos
Seoul authorities have chosen a rather unconventional method to improve public safety: they deployed a holographic police officer who regularly reminds passers-by that the police respond in real time to any troublemakers because the entire park is monitored by cameras.
Great success: crime and offences have decreased
The holographic police officer was introduced last October, and since then, the year-long pilot programme has delivered impressive results. The philosophy behind deploying the 3D police hologram is that it is impossible to assign an officer to every beginning argument, fight, or disturbance. The area around Jeo-dong 3 Park, located in the heart of this East Asian metropolis, is home to many small bars, making the neighbourhood less safe, with frequent troublemakers and drunkards causing disruption.
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The results speak for themselves. During the one-year pilot, reported crimes in the park decreased by 22%, marking the initiative a complete success. Consequently, city leaders have decided to expand the “Safe Park” programme and install these visible hologram officers in multiple locations going forward.
Local residents have welcomed the initiative enthusiastically. A young woman interviewed by the South China Morning Post said it felt as though a real officer was actually standing there. BBC interviewees also emphasised that, as strange as it sounds, the 3D officer plays a vital and effective role in crime prevention. The women interviewed mentioned that they now feel more confident walking alone in the area.
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What exactly does the holographic police officer do?
The 170-centimetre-tall figure, modelled on a South Korean police officer, is completely lifelike and was commissioned by the city from a company called Hologrammica. Its uniform is designed to be suitable for all seasons. Active between 7 PM and 10 PM, it broadcasts a warning every two minutes, stating that the park’s cameras capture everything, and the police thoroughly investigate any misdemeanours and violent crimes, ensuring offenders receive their due punishment.
Here are two videos showing it in action:
A solution to the police shortage?
The number of active police officers serving in Budapest continues to fall; in 2024, there were over 800 fewer officers than in 2017, a significant decline. At the national level, there is a shortage of at least 4,000 to 5,000 officers, which has led to noticeable gaps. The clear cause is low and uncompetitive salaries, which discourage recruitment.
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Several Budapest local authorities believe that maintaining public order and safety is only feasible by significantly strengthening their municipal public space supervision, city police forces, neighbourhood watch groups, or ranger teams. These bodies generally do not require state funding or only minimal support because much of their cost is covered by local governments using local tax revenues and fines. Of course, this option is only viable for wealthier municipalities, while poorer local governments find it out of reach.
The question remains whether Hungarians would take a holographic 3D police officer seriously if it started explaining rules and reminding them that they are being watched by cameras, urging them to behave.