Background
Investigative Interviewing has evolved over the past twenty years to the extent that the ‘PEACE’ model is now widely accepted as a ‘best practice’ framework within which to conduct forensic interviews with witnesses and suspects.
Using the ‘miscarriage of justice’ known as the ‘Cardiff Newsagent Three’ as an example of how police interviewing techniques have been called into question, discuss how investigative interviewing principles may be applied to maximise evidential opportunities at interviews with witnesses and suspects. Your response should seek to make reference to the PEACE model framework of interviewing and the ‘conversation management’ and ‘cognitive interviewing’ principles where relevant.
You should demonstrate how these Investigative Interviewing principles can be harnessed to facilitate ethical interviews in which the evidential integrity of witness and suspect accounts can be maintained whilst simultaneously safeguarding the interests of the vulnerable interviewee.
Your use of reference material should conform with the American Psychological Association (APA) (7th ed.) A Referencing Summary can be found here.
It is recommended that you base your analysis on the England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) decision O’BRIEN, HALL and SHERWOOD, R v. [2000] EWCA Crim 3 (25th January 2000) found at:
URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2000/3.html
Required word count: 3,000 (+ or – 10%)
RATIONALE
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This assessment task will assess the following learning outcome/s:
be able to evaluate the move from traditional investigative interviewing methods to contemporary interviewing models, having regard to vulnerable interviewees, the fragility of memory and the cognitive interviewing principles.
be able to compare and contrast the move from the traditional investigative interviewing methods to contemporary interviewing models, having regard to persons of interest and the strategic and tactical use of evidence.
be able to demonstrate the communication literacies and digital skills required of a competent criminal justice practitioner.
This task requires you to make an analysis of flawed interview techniques in the context of forensic interviews conducted with witnesses and suspects. This process will help you to develop your understanding of the PEACE model and the ‘cognitive interviewing’ principles and the ‘conversation management’ style of interviewing by getting you to consider them in cognisance of a grave miscarriage of justice. To be successful in this assignment, you will need to read up on the relevant theory, think critically about the police interviews with witnesses and suspects in the case, and discuss how the theoretical aspects of the subject can be applied in the practical context.
Additionally, you are being asked to write an essay so that you improve your skills in developing and expressing arguments following academic conventions.
This assignment is designed to test your achievement in the following subject objectives which state that on completion of this subject, students should be able to:
– demonstrate a sound understanding of the ethical and legal issues which impact upon the police interviewing of suspects.
– demonstrate a sound understanding of the legal and ethical considerations of interviewing which impact upon fairness and the admissibility of interview evidence
– demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical base of “investigative interviewing” including how the memory of vulnerable interviewees may be contaminated during a forensic interview
– demonstrate an understanding of the difficulties involved with eliciting accurate information from people, and the social/psychological forces which impact upon both the interviewer and the interviewee.
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