6.1.3 Ethical interviewing

Question 1

What is a previous criticism of police interviewing?

Answer 1

> Created due to EWs being treated w//o dignity + respect

Question 2

Name the ethical standards for ethical interviewing

Answer 2

> Treat every human w dignity
Interviews carried out in non-judgemental way w openness
No coercion + no material should be supressed
The truth must be the focus NOT gaining a confession !

Question 3

Describe stage 1 of PEACE

Answer 3

Planning and prep
> Identify aims, objectives + required outcomes. Note any topics of interest, design q’s, plan date/ time + how intervs recorded.

Question 4

Describe stage 2 of PEACE

Answer 4

Engage and explain
> Build rapport- important if a follow up interv is needed so they’re honest w interviewer at all interviews

Question 5

Describe stage 3 of PEACE

Answer 5

Account
> Invite suspect to provide account of their behaviour, the way this’ll be asked is decided in planning. Open q’s- key so allows suspect to explain, can prevent false convictions

Question 6

Describe stage 4 of PEACE

Answer 6

Closure
> Bring interv to good conclusion + maintain rapport, aim to avoid anger/ anxiety (incase 2nd interv needed). Explain next steps to suspect

Question 7

Describe stage 5 of PEACE

Answer 7

Evaluate
> Interv evaluated against required aims + look over material obtained/ check suspects account against evidence

Question 8

Describe Baldwin (1992/93)

Answer 8

> Review of police intervs due to concerns abt the process
Reviewed 400 vids 200 audio recs
Conclusion : low ethics
Problems identified:
- No rapport
- Looking for confession
- Coersion
- Interruptions
- Aggressive, macho approach
Problem : False confessions !
- Costs society/police time + money
- Incr harm to society, real offender free, will cost more to find real offender

Question 9

EACH-Evidence

Answer 9

1.P- Walsh & Bull (2010) supports
E- Investigated whetther interviewing with the PEACE model impacts the outcome od interview. Examined 142 real suspect interviews, found those who followed PEACE led to better outcomes of full accounts, incl confessions.
E- Strength, evidences that each stage of PEACE in ethical interviewing leads to better interview quality,improving accuracy and reliability of accounts from suspects in criminal investigations, often leading to a confession as well.
2. P- Walsh and Milne (2010)
E- The study found that interviewers trained in ethical interviewing were not that good at building the rapport required.
E - This lack of rapport may negatively affect confession or suggests that rapport is not necessary to gain a confession or truthful accounts from suspects.

Question 10

EACH-Application

Answer 10

P- Yes
E- Ultimate aim of ethical interv + PEACE technique is to gain truthful accounts from suspects regarding a crime to build up to a confession, and build rapport for future interviews if needed.
E-May help to improve public faith in legal + justice system, encouraging public to report more crimes and decr criminality in society.

Question 11

EACH-Criticisms

Answer 11

1. P-Difficult + time consuming
   E-Ethical interviewers need to have training in how to conduct one and improve their communication skills
   E - Therefore there may be limitations in cases where the police need to catch a high profile offender eg serial killer
   2.P- Walshe & Milne (2010) again

Question 12

EACH-How good?

Answer 12

P - Kebbell et al (2010) used correlational data
E - Found that ethical interviewing was more likely to get a confession compared to interviewer dominance
E - Therefore we cannot establish cause and effect for ethical interviewing having an impact on more accurate + reliable suspect accounts