A 7-year research project involving multiple UK police forces has shown significant failings in the role of Interview Manager, which researchers say is absolutely critical to the success of high-stake crime investigations—especially rape and murder.
“Until now, there has been a deficiency in the research of this critical role, which has been in existence for 20 years,” said lead author Martin Vaughan, researcher at the University of Portsmouth. “Officers are being asked to do very responsible and complex jobs with very little experience or training. The stakes are often very high and if Interview Managers get it wrong, an entire investigation can fail.”
In the UK, Interview Managers are tasked with developing effective interview strategies that ensure all parties are dealt with ethically and legally. They are also expected to provide strategic advice on the interview process, including providing relevant legislative knowledge, outlining interview strategies for the Senior Investigating Officer and briefing interviewing officers and others involved in the interview.
For the study, published in The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vaughan and his team spent 7 years gathering data from 16 UK police forces and two counterterrorist teams. Overall, their findings show the role has been neglected for a long time, with very little to no formal training offered for those put in the position.
According to the study, 70 percent of the competencies that underpin the national occupational standards concerning the make-up of an interview strategy were deemed not fit for purpose during the researchers’ review. The team found the interview failings were most significant during investigations of rape and murder.
“There have been some tragic cases that we have learnt from, and training Interview Managers in relation to vulnerability management and construction of the interview strategy is key,” said Vaughan.
Using their research findings, Vaughan and his team developed a guidance framework for the construction of ethical and legally sound investigative interviewing strategies for Interview Managers called LOST WEBSITES, which is an acronym for the twelve main responsibilities of the Interview Manager.
“For too long this role has been neglected and Interview Managers have been trying to do their best with little training or guidance,” said study co-author Becky Milne, professor of forensic psychology at University of Portsmouth. “The role requires a unique set of skills that should not be underestimated. Interview Managers need a deep understanding of how to question suspects and how to manage them when they are in custody. They need to be able to look at a suspect and tailor the interview strategy to that specific person otherwise the interview could fail.”
The researchers say the LOST WEBSITES framework can help cases be taken to courts with higher levels of confidence, in turn leading to a higher number of convictions and justice for victims.