Interviewing by the police

This chapter aims to describe the most recent initiatives and psychological research concerning the context of investigative interviewing. At the outset the chapter will examine the interviewing of witnesses and victims. Consideration will first be given to recent research (Clarke and Milne, 2001), which examined whether the training package based on PEACE (an acronym describing an interview procedure, see below), has improved police interviewing in Britain. In addition, the applicability of the cognitive interview will be discussed in light of the work conducted by the authors of this chapter both in the UK and abroad. Various practical issues, which were gleaned from these fruitful experiences, will be highlighted. The second area to be approached concerns the ‘brave new’ legislation adopted in England and Wales which aims to create greater access to the criminal justice system for vulnerable groups (e.g. people with learning disabilities). A number of the issues surrounding its implementation (as they relate to interviewing) and also the guidelines given as to how to interview vulnerable witnesses/victims will be discussed. The major focus of this chapter will be on the interviewing of adults. Readers with an interest in this topic with reference to children can consult the relevant chapter in Milne and Bull (1999).