Interviewing Suspects

Question 1

The ‘old’ way

Answer 1

In India a survey found that some police officers said that they do use a variety of intimidation techniques (Alison et al 2008).

Reid approach, used has been criticised for being sufficiently coercive to cause false confessions (Leo,2008).

Question 2

A Newer way

Answer 2

Growing number of countries have decided to adopt a model to investigate interviewing that does not rely on a coercive approach.

Question 3

Reasons for coercion

Answer 3

One of the major assumptions underlying justification for use of coercive interrogation techniques is the pervasive ‘common-sense belief that
“suspects

Question 4

Little Research

Answer 4

Interviews have rarely been scrutinized in detail in published research and usually is not made available to outside researchers.

There has been little interaction between psychologists and police concerning how to interview someone.

Up to mis 1980s no guidance

Question 5

Guidance becomes available

Answer 5

These have been trained/adopted by considerable number of investigators around the world.

Unfortunately, (Gudjonsson 1992, 2003; Memon) argues some of recommended procedures may, cause false confessions, partly being coercive.

Question 6

Public Opinion

Answer 6

1994 Williamson (Senior Police Officer) stated - unethical behaviour by interrogators has undermined public confidence, and left the police with a serious skill deficit. It does not take much skill to beat a confession our a suspect detained in custody. However, the police in this this country would correctly deny such things happened, but the public thought it happened regularly.

Question 7

Baldwin’s Pioneering Research Study

Answer 7

20 - 600 interviews examined did change their story in course of the interview. In only 9 of these cases was that change of heart attributable to the persuasive skills of the interviewer, and only three involved offences of any seriousness. Majority stick to their starting position.

Question 8

Early Revelation by Interviewer: Moston (1992)

Answer 8

Over several hundred taped interviews, if any tried to obtain people’s accounts of events. Instead accused the interviewees of the offence and asked for their response.

Found when evidence was strong confessions were more likely.

When police evidence was not strong suspects soon became aware of this thus many did not confess.

Question 9

Time for change

Answer 9

This change happened in 1992 which was called the Peace approach. It involved guidance documents and training courses that all crime investigators in England must attend.

Question 10

Some of the (1992) Seven ‘principles’ of ‘PEACE’

Answer 10

Role is to obtain accurate reliable information from suspects, witnesses or victims in order to discover the truth about the investigation.

Be approached with an open mind.

Vulnerable people, whoever they may be, must be treated with consideration.

Question 11

P
E
A
C
E

Answer 11

Planning and Preparation
Engage and Explain
Account
Closure
Evaluation

Question 12

Planning and Preparation

Answer 12

Understanding the purpose of the interview

Defining aims and objectives

Analysing the already available evidence.

Question 13

Engage and Explain

Answer 13

Explain
Reasons for interview
Legal requirements
Ground rules

Engage
Introduction
Rapport

Question 14

Account

Answer 14

Try to obtain some information from interview
Do not interrupt, when account has finished, only ask questions relating that that account.
After gradually introduce information known to interviewer that the suspect has not yet mentioned.
Challenge contradictions/inconsistencies

Question 15

Closure

Answer 15

Correctly summarise what the suspect said

Explain what may happen next

Do your best to ensure that interviewee leaves the interview in a positive frame of mind

Consider public confidence in your organisation and in you

Question 16

Evaluation

Answer 16

Of information obatained

Interviewers own performance during the interview by
Self evaluation
Peer/colleague
Supervisor

Question 17

Investigators Beliefs (in order)

Answer 17

Listening
Preperation
Questioning
Knowledge of topic
Flexibility
Open mindedness
Rapport
Compassion/empathy

Question 18

Skills rarely present

Answer 18

Appropriate use of pauses and silences
Avoidance of using closed questions
Flexibility
Empathy & Compassion

Question 19

Skills often present

Answer 19

Not releasing all information

Absence of inappropriate interruptions overtalking.

Question 20

Is the PEACE model effective?

Answer 20

142 interviews with people a PEACE approach was used.

Found that better PEACE interviewing was associated with securing a greater number of comprehensive accounts, including exculpatory ones as well as confessions

Interviews that scored higher (overall) for planning skills were associated with more comprehensive accounts or full confessions than were those interviews which scored lower for planning

63% rated as satisfactory or above obtained full confession whereas 12% for those rated as needs further training

Question 21

Is rapport effective?

Answer 21

Those interviews which were rated above PEACE standard performance, rapport building skills were three times as likely to achieve a comprehensive account.

Interviews rated above PEACE standard in both rapport building and maintenance skills were five times more likely to obtain satisfactory outcomes

Question 22

Overcoming denials/non cooperation

Answer 22

13 found significantly differentiate between interviews in which suspects ‘shifted’ versus did not shift.
- encouraging account; gentle prods; open questions; probing questions; persistence; regular summarising

Found not to be effective in our study were maximisation; intimidation; challenging account; leading questions; suggest scenario

Question 23

Various countries

Answer 23

Reported that being patient, showing kindness, respect and concern were rated highly by investigators

Belgian study 126 suspects who had been interviewed, found that suspects satisfaction ratings were positively related to their evaluations of the humanitarian interviewing style

Question 24

The actual relationship

Answer 24

Studied in Japan: Police officers interviewed adult suspects (denied committing a crime) filled in a questionnaire which included their own level of empathic understanding.

For most types of crime a significant positive association was found between officers (self reported) level of empathic understanding and their obtaining full confessions.

Question 25

The actual relationship Pt.2

Answer 25

Closed questions were by far the type of question frequently used the most. Open questions were less used and more likely to occur during the opening phases.

Significant association between interviewer strategies and suspect responses.

Rapport/empathy and open questions associated with an increased likelihood of suspects admitting offence.

Whilst negative questions associated with decreased likelihood

Question 26

The actual relationship Pt.3

Answer 26

Examined which strategies were associated with these interviewees continuing to respond relevantly

Positive associations for rapport/empathy, presentation of evidence, requests for attention.

Negative associations for explicitly asks for account/tell truth, emphasises seriousness of offence and situational futility.

Question 27

United Nations Special Rapporteur

Answer 27

Interviewers must gain accurate and reliable data and pursuit the truth

Gather all evidence before the case

Maintain a professional fair and respectful attitude

Establish and maintain rapport

Allow interviewee to give his free uninterrupted account of events.

Use open-ended questions and active listening

Scrutinize the account and analyse the information obtained previously

Evaluate each interview with a view to leaning and developing additional skills