INVESTIGATIVE
INTERVIEWING
Mick Boothroyd
Trainer/Interview Advisor .
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Objectives




Identify what an interview is and the principles we
apply.
Examine and interpret the PEACE model of
interviewing.
Use gap analysis throughout the interview process.
Understand




The methods of interviewing
Questioning styles
Importance of Effective listening
Need to record interviews accurately
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
An Interview

What is an Interview?
 “A

conversation with a purpose”
Every encounter during an investigation could
be an interview!

Deal with it properly “If it isn’t written down, it didn’t
happen”
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Principles

Within the Police interviewing process we apply Principles
There are 7 devised by the IISG (Investigative Interview
Strategy Group) updated in 2007.

We can apply some of these to any interview





To obtain accurate and reliable accounts about matters under
investigation.
Must act fairly, vulnerable people must be treated with particular
consideration at all times.
Investigative interviewing, approached with investigative mindset,
accounts obtained should be tested against what is known or can be
established.
When conducting an interview, investigators are free to ask a wide
range of questions in order to obtain material which may assist the
investigation.
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Other Principles relating to Suspects

Acknowledge early admission

Still ask Questions even if not answering them

Not bound to accept the first answer given*
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
P.E.A.C.E.

A process of interviewing acknowledged by
the judiciary. So what does it mean?

P
E
A
C
E




- Plan and Prepare
- Engage and Explain
- Account/Question/Clarify/Challenge
- Closure
- Evaluation
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Plan and Preparation


“Failing to plan, planning to fail”
About the interview process:Why - Purpose of interviews, apply principles
 Who – Agreement, fit to be interviewed
 How, when and where - Working practices/
Considerations/ Methodology
 What - Aims/Intentions/ Specific Objectives to
this person - ~Your topics & their account~.
 Issues for introduction – what impact will they
have

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Plan and Prep using Gap Analysis

About the matter under investigation (apply 5WH)






What – I am investigating
Where – The locations relevant to the issue under
investigation
When – The material time frame
Who – The persons of interest witness/victim/
perpetrator
How – The Modus Operandi (Method of
operating)
Why – MOTIVE!
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Engage and Explain

Explanation of process







Your actions
Their actions
Rapport building
Know them
Do not make unintentional disclosures
Record what you disclose
Be aware of what they have already said/disclosed and
ensure it is recorded. (Significant deal with it!)
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Account – Clarification Explanation
Challenge


ACCOUNT Opening question - (Gives
direction to method of
questioning)



First account (listen, gurgle,
record)
acknowledge through Summary
Break down topic









Explore to detail important
information
Summary- empty the cup –
allows you to place account in
memory
No gaps
Incident/Investigation
Ask questions




Control relevance
Review relevance
Review objectives
Introduce own topics if not
covered in witness account
Questioning style Free recall,
conversation management,
cognitive (see Later)
Clarify/Explain/ challenge
omission. inconsistency.
Documentation
Breaks
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Method of interview
(Obtaining an Account)

The type of interview conducted will be
driven by two issues
The individual being interviewed
 The interviewer


This will lead to the interview being
conducted in the following methods or
elements of each
Conversation management
 Cognitive
 Free recall

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Response to question (Account)


FREE RECALL
“I was at the train station
obtaining my ticket from a
machine, I was with John, at
that time I had my wallet in
my hand and had my credit
card in the machine, /
suddenly / someone
pushed me from behind
and I fell forward,/ I put
my hands up to stop myself
and this person / grabbed
my wallet from my hand and
ran off out of the gate.”

CONVERSATION
MANAGEMENT

“Someone


stole
my wallet.”
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Closure








Review account
Change alter or add anything
Everything covered
Tell them what is happening
What you are doing
Set up next interview if necessary
Identify issues
Do not leave with uncertainty
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Evaluation





Review Plan
Review interview
Review product
Look at the elements along side each other
What was






Good
Poor
Could be improved
Could have been done differently
Be honest with yourself and others
What enquiries are needed
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Types of Questions

Do ask





TED
Open (specific 5WH filling those gaps)
Closed (specific)
Forced choice
Don’t ask




Multiple
Leading
Suggestive/hypothetical
Accusatory
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Effective Listening

An essential Skill

You can ask the best questions in the world, but
if you don’t listen to the answers, they ain’t no
good!

Often too focussed on task and next question,
resulting in failure to listen to what is being said!
You miss that golden nugget as it rolls out the
room!!
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Recording the interview – Written





This is the product of the interview not the purpose
It is how you present the information account obtained in
the interview
From the account given within the interview and notes
taken prepare and present the report/statement.
REMEMBER “It is their words not yours”.
They may have to give this information at tribunal or other
hearing - not you, do not influence what they are saying by
what you are saying.
Don’t forget the notes can be unused material for any
subsequent Police investigation
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Questions?
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED