Investigative Interviewing

Question 1

What are the 7 principles of Investigative Interviewing?

Answer 1

1. Obtain accurate and reliable accounts from victims, witnesses or suspects about matters under police investigation
2. Investigators must act fairly when questioning victims, witnesses and suspects. Vulnerable people must be treated with particular consideration at all times
3. Investigative mindset. Accounts obtained should be tested against what the interviewer already knows or what can reasonably be established
4. Investigators are free to ask a wide range of questions if relevant to the investigation
5. Investigators should recognise the positive impact of an early admission
6. Investigators are not bound to accept the first answer given. Questioning is not unfair merely because it is persistent
7. Even when a suspect exercises the right to silence, investigators have a responsibility to put questions to them

Question 2

What does PEACE stand for?

Answer 2

P - Planning and preparation
E - Engage and explain
A - Account clarification (witnesses/ victims)/ Account challenge (suspects)
C - Closure
E - Evaluate (what you have been told and your performance)

Question 3

What does PLAT stand for?

Answer 3

P - People
L - Location
A - Actions
T - Time

Question 4

Who is eligible for special measures for victims/ witnesses in accordance with s.16 of Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999?

Answer 4

• Children (under 18 at the time of the first ground rules hearing)
• Learning disabilities
• Mental health issues
• Physical disability

Question 5

If a victim/ witness falls into a special measures category, what should you consider?

Answer 5

Consider whether taking a written statement would achieve their best evidence - could consider video interview/ statement for example

Question 6

What are the two special warnings?

Answer 6

S.36 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 - found with something he shouldn’t have
S.37 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 - found at a place he shouldn’t have been at or about the time of an alleged offence

Question 7

What is a special warning?

Answer 7

• higher level warning than the caution
• takes away right to silence as judiciary has said that there are certain situations where they would expect a person who is innocent to explain the circumstances of the special warning material

Question 8

S.37 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (Special Warning)

Answer 8

• arrested by a constable
• found by the same constable that arrested them
• at any place at or about the time of an offence
• their presence is suspected to be attributable to their participation in the offence

Question 9

S.36 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (Special Warning)

Answer 9

• arrested by a constable
• must have found something on their person, in or on their clothing or footwear, or otherwise in their possession something relating to the offence
• can be mark, object or substance
• belief that the presence of the mark, object or substance is attributable to the person’s participation in the offence
• can’t give special warning for finger prints/ DNA in this force

Question 10

How should a special warning be presented? (OFFID)

Answer 10

O - Offence
F - Fact asking about
F - Fact that this could link them to the offence
I - Inference
D - Digital recording

Question 11

When can bad character evidence be introduced in an interview? (D&G)

Answer 11

D - done it before - they have a tendancy to commit like offences
G - got it in for me - suspect starts attacking someone else’s character verbally during the interview

Question 12

What is a significant statement?

Answer 12

A significant statement is something that is said by the suspect before or after they are cautioned that will be brought up in an interview. This is usually recorded in a pocket notebook and the suspect is offered to sign it