Investigative interviewing in the UK

Changes in the format and process of interviewing in the UK came about partly due to a number of miscarriages of justice (for example the Guildford Four, the Birmingham Six) that led to legislative change (Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) Act 1984), and to related guidance resulting in the development of new interviewing policy and training. In addition, research concerning behaviour in the interview room (e.g. Moston et al. 1992; Baldwin 1993) highlighted the fact that, for suspects, witnesses and victims, the interviewer can have a significant impact on the quality and quantity of information gathered from the interviewee. This chapter will discuss the evolution of investigative interviewing of both suspects and witnesses/victims in England and Wales (though the majority of these changes are reflected across the UK). This chapter will begin by considering suspect interviews, with a brief history of pertinent cases and relevant legislation. The chapter will then go on to discuss the interviewing of witnesses and victims. Finally, new developments in interviewing within the UK will be presented.