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In Seoul, South Korea, a new kind of police officer is on patrol, but you can't exactly shake his hand
In an effort to curb crime, the Seoul metropolitan police agency has installed a 3D holographic police officer in Jeo-dong Park.
Every night between 7pm and 10pm, the life-sized hologram appears, delivers a pre-recorded warning, and then vanishes into thin air every two minutes, The Times reported.
The message is clear: "In case of an emergency, the police will be dispatched in real time. CCTV is installed here."
The hologram is also fitted with AI-powered cameras, and real officers are stationed nearby to respond to any incidents
Jungbu police station chief, Ahn Dong-hyun, admitted that while it's obviously not a real person, "it has been confirmed that the mere presence of a hologram can reduce the possibility of crime."
Another officer, Kim Hyun-don, claimed that crimes within the park have dropped by 22% since the hologram was installed
The biggest impact has been on "impulsive crimes such as drunken violence or disputes".
However, some experts are sceptical about its long-term success. Professor of criminology at Cambridge University, Lawrence Sherman, pointed out the obvious flaw.
"A hologram can't catch you. It can't put handcuffs on you and take you away. And criminals know that," he said, suggesting its power might fade over time.
