Police recruits learn in real-time 3D

Dubai: Dubai Police training for new recruits has never been this close to being real.

Training officers have now adopted new three-dimensional technology for their Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) virtual training programme that allows trainees to walk around a virtual Dubai and test out various scenarios.

The SWAT 3D training programme helps new recruits deal with potential crime situations in real-time lending valuable split-second response stimuli to training scenarios.

The technology is now is being developed at Dubai police Virtual Training Section.

Dr Ahmad Bin Subaih, Head of Virtual Training Section at Dubai Police, said for a police force which has always been quick to embrace new technology, virtual training is a logical step forward.

As part of the programme, cadets are thrown into the middle of the action and confronted with tricky scenarios ranging from murder and robbery to road accidents, all digitally reconstructed from real incidents in Dubai.

The recruit has to preserve the crime scene, search for clues using forensics tools provided in the option bar on his computer screen and piece together the evidence to figure out the mystery.

The programme uses details from actual cases like photographs and CCTV footage to simulate real-life situations where trainee officers “walk around” and “uncover evidence”.

Bin Subaih said the traditional learning procedures like lectures, field and on-the-job training have several limitations.

“Because of safety and logistic issues, it’s not always possible to put a trainee on a crime or accident scene. In the case of lectures, it’s a one size fits all approach. It doesn’t work. Lectures are passive in nature. Virtual training, in contrast, provides a realistic hands-on experience that closely mimics real situations. It’s far more engaging and focused,” he said.