Investigative Interviewing

Abstract

In many places throughout world, suspects (and sometimes witnesses and victims) are still interrogated in a coercive, pressurizing manner. The beliefs underlying such practices are examined in this chapter, as is the emerging body of research on offenders’ opinions about effective interviewing, which actually supports the efficacy of a more humanitarian approach. A seismic shift away from coercive interrogation that seminally commenced in 1992 in England and Wales—involving the “PEACE” investigative interviewing approach—is described, together with the research that underpinned this (then novel) method. Later scientific work in the United Kingdom on its effectiveness is then presented and discussed. After these studies are reviewed, more recent research from various countries are put forward that have also found a rapport-based, humane approach to be effective. Building on this emerging science, a number of investigative organizations in a variety of countries have replaced coercive interrogation techniques with investigative interviewing (e.g., the Norwegian Police and the New Zealand Police), and a greater number are in the process of doing the same. The Norwegian Police experience is exemplary on this point, and will be described in detail. The chapter will then conclude with an account of the recent United Nations initiative to establish a Universal Protocol that adopts this type of non-coercive approach based on study and practice.