Where There's Smoke, There's Fire: How Attempts to Reduce Unnecessary Police Traffic Stops May Backfire

Abstract Digital decision-support systems are increasingly used in policing to promote more proportionate decision-making. However, their effects depend on how officers interpret the information these systems provide. This study examines how police officers interpret numerical feedback about prior police activity presented through MEOS (Mobiel Effectief Op Straat), a Dutch mobile policing application designed to support discretionary decisions. Across two studies, we examined whether information about previous police checks and enforcement outcomes influenced officers’ interpretations and simulated intervention decisions. Using virtual reality (VR) simulations and survey-based measures, we found no detectable effect of access to MEOS information on simulated intervention decisions. However, higher numbers of prior checks and registrations were consistently associated with greater perceived relevance and suspicion, more negative evaluations, and greater stated willingness to use the information when deciding whether to act. The findings suggest that numerical indicators of prior police attention may acquire meaning beyond their intended function. Rather than being interpreted solely as evidence of limited enforcement relevance, higher levels of prior attention were associated with perceptions that a person or vehicle was more noteworthy and suspicious. These findings highlight the importance of understanding how digital information is interpreted within professional and organisational contexts when designing technological interventions in policing.