investigative interviewing

INVESTIGATIVE INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWING INTERVIEWING

Mick Boothroyd Mick Boothroyd

Trainer/Interview Advisor .Trainer/Interview Advisor .

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED


ObjectivesObjectives Identify what an interview is and the Identify what an interview is and the

principles we apply.principles we apply. Examine and interpret the PEACE Examine and interpret the PEACE

model of interviewing. model of interviewing. Use Use gap analysisgap analysis throughout the throughout the

interview process.interview process. Understand Understand

The methods of interviewing The methods of interviewing Questioning styles Questioning styles Importance of Effective listeningImportance of Effective listening Need to record interviews accurately Need to record interviews accurately



An InterviewAn Interview

What is an Interview? What is an Interview?

““A conversation with a purpose”A conversation with a purpose”

Every encounter during an Every encounter during an investigation could be an interview! investigation could be an interview! Deal with it properly “If it isn’t written Deal with it properly “If it isn’t written

down, it didn’t happen” down, it didn’t happen”



Principles Principles Within the Police interviewing process we Within the Police interviewing process we

apply Principles apply Principles There are 7 devised by the IISG (Investigative There are 7 devised by the IISG (Investigative

Interview Strategy Group) updated in 2007. Interview Strategy Group) updated in 2007.

We can apply some of these to any interview We can apply some of these to any interview To obtain accurate and reliable accounts about To obtain accurate and reliable accounts about

matters under investigation. matters under investigation. Must act fairly, vulnerable people must be treated Must act fairly, vulnerable people must be treated

with particular consideration at all times.with particular consideration at all times. Investigative interviewing, approached with Investigative interviewing, approached with

investigative mindset, accounts obtained should be investigative mindset, accounts obtained should be tested against what is known or can be established. tested against what is known or can be established.

When conducting an interview, investigators are free When conducting an interview, investigators are free to ask a wide range of questions in order to obtain to ask a wide range of questions in order to obtain material which may assist the investigation. material which may assist the investigation.



Other Principles relating to Other Principles relating to SuspectsSuspects

Acknowledge early admission Acknowledge early admission

Still ask Questions even if not Still ask Questions even if not answering themanswering them

Not bound to accept the first Not bound to accept the first answer given* answer given*



P.E.A.C.E.P.E.A.C.E. A process of interviewing A process of interviewing

acknowledged by the judiciary. So acknowledged by the judiciary. So what does it mean? what does it mean?

P P - Plan and Prepare- Plan and Prepare EE - Engage and Explain- Engage and Explain AA - -

Account/Question/Clarify/ChallengeAccount/Question/Clarify/Challenge CC - Closure- Closure EE - Evaluation- Evaluation



Plan and PreparationPlan and Preparation ““Failing to plan, planning to fail” Failing to plan, planning to fail” About the interview process:-About the interview process:-

Why - Purpose of interviews, apply Why - Purpose of interviews, apply principlesprinciples

Who – Agreement, fit to be interviewedWho – Agreement, fit to be interviewed How, when and where - Working How, when and where - Working

practices/ Considerations/ Methodologypractices/ Considerations/ Methodology What - Aims/Intentions/ Specific What - Aims/Intentions/ Specific

Objectives to this person - ~Your topics Objectives to this person - ~Your topics & their account~. & their account~.

Issues for introduction – what impact Issues for introduction – what impact will they havewill they have



Plan and Prep using Gap Plan and Prep using Gap Analysis Analysis

About the matter under investigation About the matter under investigation (apply 5WH)(apply 5WH) What – I am investigating What – I am investigating Where – The locations relevant to the issue under Where – The locations relevant to the issue under

investigation investigation When – The material time frame When – The material time frame Who – The persons of interest witness/victim/ Who – The persons of interest witness/victim/

perpetrator perpetrator How – The Modus Operandi (Method of How – The Modus Operandi (Method of

operating) operating) Why – MOTIVE! Why – MOTIVE!



Engage and ExplainEngage and Explain

Explanation of processExplanation of process Your actions Your actions Their actions Their actions

Rapport building Rapport building Know them Know them Do not make unintentional disclosures Do not make unintentional disclosures Record what you discloseRecord what you disclose Be aware of what they have already Be aware of what they have already

said/disclosed and ensure it is recorded. said/disclosed and ensure it is recorded. (Significant deal with it!) (Significant deal with it!)



Account – Account – Clarification Clarification Explanation Challenge Explanation Challenge

ACCOUNT -ACCOUNT - Opening question - Opening question -

(Gives direction to (Gives direction to method of questioning) method of questioning) First account (listen, First account (listen,

gurgle, record) gurgle, record) acknowledge through acknowledge through

SummarySummary Break down topicBreak down topic

Explore to detail Explore to detail important informationimportant information

Summary- empty the Summary- empty the cup – allows you to cup – allows you to place account in place account in memorymemory

No gapsNo gaps Incident/Investigation Incident/Investigation Ask questions Ask questions

Control relevanceControl relevance Review relevanceReview relevance Review objectivesReview objectives Introduce own topics if Introduce own topics if

not covered in witness not covered in witness accountaccount

Questioning style Free Questioning style Free recall, conversation recall, conversation management, cognitive management, cognitive (see Later) (see Later)

Clarify/Explain/ challenge Clarify/Explain/ challenge omission. inconsistency. omission. inconsistency.

DocumentationDocumentation BreaksBreaks



Method of interview Method of interview (Obtaining an Account)(Obtaining an Account)

The type of interview conducted The type of interview conducted will be driven by two issues will be driven by two issues The individual being interviewedThe individual being interviewed The interviewer The interviewer

This will lead to the interview This will lead to the interview being conducted in the following being conducted in the following methods or elements of eachmethods or elements of each Conversation management Conversation management Cognitive Cognitive Free recallFree recall



Response to question Response to question (Account) (Account)

FREE RECALLFREE RECALL ““II was at the was at the train train

stationstation obtaining my obtaining my ticket from a machine, I ticket from a machine, I was withwas with JohnJohn,, at that at that timetime I had myI had my walletwallet in in my my handhand and had my and had my credit card in the credit card in the machine,machine, / / suddenlysuddenly / / someone pushedsomeone pushed me me from from behind behind and and I fell I fell forward,/forward,/ I put my I put my hands up hands up to stop myself to stop myself and and this person /this person / grabbed my walletgrabbed my wallet from from my hand and my hand and ran off out ran off out of the gate.of the gate.” ”

CONVERSATION CONVERSATION MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

““SomeoneSomeone

stole stole

my wallet.” my wallet.”



Closure Closure

Review accountReview account Change alter or add anythingChange alter or add anything Everything coveredEverything covered Tell them what is happening Tell them what is happening What you are doingWhat you are doing Set up next interview if necessary Set up next interview if necessary Identify issues Identify issues Do not leave with uncertaintyDo not leave with uncertainty



Evaluation Evaluation Review Plan Review Plan Review interviewReview interview Review productReview product Look at the elements along side each Look at the elements along side each

otherother What wasWhat was

GoodGood PoorPoor Could be improvedCould be improved Could have been done differentlyCould have been done differently Be honest with yourself and othersBe honest with yourself and others What enquiries are neededWhat enquiries are needed



Types of QuestionsTypes of Questions Do ask Do ask

TEDTED Open (specific 5WH filling those gaps)Open (specific 5WH filling those gaps) Closed (specific)Closed (specific) Forced choiceForced choice

Don’t ask Don’t ask MultipleMultiple LeadingLeading Suggestive/hypotheticalSuggestive/hypothetical AccusatoryAccusatory



Effective ListeningEffective Listening

An essential SkillAn essential Skill You can ask the best questions in You can ask the best questions in

the world, but if you don’t listen to the world, but if you don’t listen to the answers, they ain’t no good!the answers, they ain’t no good!

Often too focussed on task and next Often too focussed on task and next question, resulting in failure to listen to question, resulting in failure to listen to what is being said! You miss that golden what is being said! You miss that golden nugget as it rolls out the room!! nugget as it rolls out the room!!



Recording the interview – Recording the interview – Written Written

This is the product of the interview not the This is the product of the interview not the purposepurpose

It is how you present the information account It is how you present the information account obtained in the interview obtained in the interview

From the account given within the interview and From the account given within the interview and notes taken prepare and present the notes taken prepare and present the report/statement. REMEMBER “It is their words report/statement. REMEMBER “It is their words not yours”.not yours”.

They may have to give this information at They may have to give this information at tribunal or other hearing - not you, do not tribunal or other hearing - not you, do not influence what they are saying by what you are influence what they are saying by what you are saying. saying.

Don’t forget the notes can be unused materialDon’t forget the notes can be unused material for any subsequent Police investigation for any subsequent Police investigation



Questions?Questions?

investigative interviewing

Documents

marked plan

marked principles

marked objectivesidentify

interview process

process of interviewing

p plan

peace model of interviewing

investigative mindset