Evaluation of Forensic Interviews and Interrogations: A Thematic Analysis of Law-Enforcement Views

Purpose. Effective forensic interviewing is crucial, particularly if the interview is the only source of evidence. Whilst there are a number of non-coercive interview models that advocate for reflective practice, the evaluation of interviews rarely gets the time or attention it deserves. This is concerning given that interviewer skills drop significantly after six months, and there are limited opportunities for refresher training. The aims of the current study were to explore how law enforcement officers reflect upon and evaluate their interviews and seek their insight into what they believe an effective evaluation tool would constitute. Methodology. A total of 32 officers from three police forces in England and Wales and six international security organisations completed a qualitative questionnaire that explored their views on how interview evaluation is conducted and the impact on the interview, and how technology could assist in this important stage in terms of usability, efficacy and capability of a new evaluation tool. Findings. Thematic Analysis was utilised resulting in three overall themes emerging from the data. These focused on current evaluation methods, barriers to conducting evaluations and technological solutions. Originality. The findings are discussed in relation to interviewing and the Forensic Interview Trace©. Implications for practice include the need for much more effort to be put into (re) introducing the evaluation stage into training to ensure that officers are allowed to reflect upon and evaluate their interview performance

Understanding cybercrime in ‘real world’ policing and law enforcement

Cybercrime is a growing issue, still not fully understood by researchers or policing/law enforcement communities. UK Government reports assert that victims of cybercrime were unlikely to report crimes immediately due to the perception that police were ill-equipped to deal with these offences. Additionally, these reports identify policing issues including a lack of cybercrime knowledge. This paper reviews current research, providing a comprehensive account of cybercrime and addressing issues in policing such offences. We achieve this by describing the technological, individual, social and situational landscapes conducive to cybercrime, and how this knowledge may inform strategies to overcome current issues in investigations

Developing a narrative theory of deception for the analysis of mock-Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS) accounts

Human source intelligence (HUMINT) practitioners are concerned with detecting informant deception, and previous research indicates that the verbal content of an informant’s narrative can be used to identify potential deceit. The current study extends previous research by analysing the narrative structure and narrative identity of accounts provided by 22 participants undertaking the role of a mock-informant. Results indicate that deception affects the structure of a mock-informant narrative, with deceptive mock-informants employing abstract introductions and evaluative remarks to withhold information and to distract their listeners with emotional content. Additionally, deceptive mock-informants are more likely to express a low potency narrative role, such as a victim or tragic hero. Furthermore, there is tentative evidence to suggest that an analysis of narrative identity can also provide an indication of varying levels of motivation and cooperation among truthful mock-informants. These findings have implications for HUMINT practitioners in the field and add to the wider body of deception detection research

What works in investigative interviewing? Using Systematic Maps to examine the evidence base

Competent investigative interviewing skills are key to securing reliable information from victims, witnesses, informants, and suspects. Information obtained in interviews often plays an important role in directing an investigation, informing effective decision-making, promoting efficient allocation of resources, as well as securing reliable prosecutions and mitigating risk of miscarriages of justice. However, effective investigative interviewing is a complex skill to master; demanding a sound understanding of the many cognitive, social, and environmental factors that influence the content and accuracy of witness and suspect accounts. To ensure that investigative interviewing and intelligence gathering produces usable, credible, and reliable information in an effective and ethically defensible manner, training and practice must be evidence-based. This short article outlines how practitioners, trainers and policy makers can navigate the best available research evidence to evaluate ‘what works?’ in investigative interviewing

Progress towards omnidirectional transformation optics with lenses

We study, theoretically, omni-directional Euclidean transformation-optics (TO) devices comprising planar, light-ray-direction changing, imaging, interfaces. We initially studied such devices in the case when the interfaces are homogeneous, showing that very general transformations between physical and electromagnetic space are possible. We are now studying the case of inhomogeneous interfaces. This case is more complex to analyse, but the inhomogeneous interfaces include ideal thin lenses, which gives rise to the hope that it might be possible to construct practical omni-directional TO devices from lenses alone. Here we report on our progress in this direction

Effective evaluation of forensic interviews: The Forensic Interview Trace (FIT)

Forensic interviewing forms an integral part of a police/law enforcement officer’s main duties and responsibilities. However, not every interviewer possesses suitable interview skills to be able to complete this effectively. Despite the introduction of the PEACE model of interviewing, with the last ‘E’ focusing specifically on ‘Evaluation’, this stage of the interview model rarely gets the attention it deserves. This is concerning given the need for forensic interviews to be legally ‘bomb-proof’. Although the Griffiths Question Map (GQM) has gone some way to assist in the effective evaluation of forensic interviews, focusing solely on question types restricts its use in evaluating the entirety of a forensic interview. However, the more recently developed Forensic Interview Trace (FIT) ã allows the reviewer to record all aspects of a forensic interview, including questioning, interviewee responses, and interviewer and interviewee characteristics. This ensures that effective evaluations of forensic interviews can be undertaken to ensure compliance with relevant guidance and legislation, whilst continuously evaluating individual interview performance to ensure that effective interview skills pertain to best practice