Interviewing Suspects - complete

Question 1

What were the key concerns with police interviewing?

Answer 1

Baldwin (1992) - lack of preparation, general ineptitude, assumption of guilt.

Question 2

What were the key points advised for police interviewing?

Answer 2

Baldwin (1992) - preparation and planning, rapport building and interviewers social skills.

Question 3

What is PEACE?

Answer 3

Preparation and planning 
Engage and explain
Account
Closure 
Evaluation

Question 4

What was Clarke and Milne’s (2001) evaluation?

Answer 4

Examined 177 actual interviews of suspects evaluating officers skills in peace

Improvement found in interviewing compared to previous criticisms 
But
Poor use of techniques
Little routine supervision,
misunderstanding of PEACE model 
10% interviews breached PEACE

Recommended - interview plans should be requirement and refreshed training to concentrate on obtaining interviewee’s account

Question 5

What are the Tiers of police interviewing?

Answer 5

Tier 1 - basic, uncomplicated interviews for uniform officers
Tier 2- enhanced interview skills more complex crime (CID etc.)
Tier 3 - Specialist interviewer for murders, complex crime
Tier 4 - Reviewer/ assessor level for lower tiers
Tier 5- Tactical Interview Manager, deploy tactics for interviews in serious criminal cases

Question 6

What are the implications for PEACE?

Answer 6

Soukara et al. (2009) no longer focused on gaining admission

Kassin et al. (2004) Collaboration between law enforcement, legal profession to better evaluation of interview methods

Soukara et al (2002) Detective identified most important aspect of interview was Preparation

Question 7

What is the Reid Technique?

Answer 7

Inbau et al. (1986)
Method of questioning subjects assess credibility through non accusatory interview process. If information indicates subjects probable involvement in commission of crime an accusatory interrogation is initiated.

Question 8

What is Inbau et al’s technique?

Answer 8

Impressing suspect and breaking down any resistance the suspect may have in order to be questioned

Question 9

What is Baldwin’s technique?

Answer 9

Essentially information gathering requiring certain skills
Used in England and Wales where trickery and deceit associated with Inbau’s technique would make a confession inadmissible under PACE

Question 10

What types of False Confessions are there?

Answer 10

Kassin 1997

Voluntary
Coerced Compliant
Coerced Internalised

Question 11

Give real life cases where a false confession has been given.

Answer 11

The Birmingham Six - served 16 years in jail wrongfully convicted

Stefan Kiszko - Convicted of sexual murder spent 16 years in prison wrongfully convicted

Question 12

What is the current and future research?

Answer 12

Dando et al. (2013)

Researching technique used by many experienced police officers with PEACE not Reid
“Drip Disclosure” - a strategic test used to identify liars from those telling the truth