Over the last few years there have been massive changes in police interviewing practices: in many countries police officers no longer interrogate suspects, they interview them. This has been a product of an ever increasing number of cases of miscarriages of justice, many of them featuring false confessions. At the same time a considerable amount of research has been carried out into different methods of interviewing, and information from suspects remains one of the most important means of solving crimes - far more so than physical forensic evidence. This book aims to describe and critically evaluate a wide range of police interviewing styles and tactics that might be used during the questioning of suspects in criminal investigations. It evaluates a variety of different approaches in terms of their efficacy and acceptability, taking account of insights of practitioners as well as the findings of academic research. The book sets out a range of different interviewing tactics, providing examples of practice, reviewing the evidence of their effectiveness and acceptability, with particular reference to the UK, Europe, the USA and Australasia.
It also reviews critically the leading training packages (e.g. PEACE, Reid techniques) in use. Police Interviewing Styles and Tactics will be essential reading on the subjects for both police practitioners and those studying the subject.