Suspect interrogation

The traditional method used with suspects is to interrogate them using an accusatory style, often from the beginning of the interrogation.  Recent in research in several countries consistently demonstrates that a noteworthy proportion of guilty suspects have already decided to confess before the interview commences, and thus this traditional approach may be ‘seen’ to work for them.  For other suspects new research suggests such an approach may well not be effective.  A different approach was adopted over 25 years ago in England, which is now being adopted elsewhere (e.g. in Australia, Japan, Norway, USA) and has been recommended by a United Nations ‘Special Rapporteur’.  Instead of the seeking of confessions (that may provide very little information), this ‘new’ approach encourages suspects to provide as much relevant information as possible, the contents of which can be verified or challenged.  Research on how best to elicit such information and when best to disclose to suspects information known to the investigators will be described.

Speaker

Ray Bull is (part-time) Professor of Criminal Investigation at The University of Derby.  In 2014 he became (for three years) President of the European Association of Psychology and Law.  In 2012 he was made the first Honorary Life Member of the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group.  In 2010 he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the British Psychological Society “for the contribution made to the discipline of psychology” (this honour is restricted to 40 living psychologists).  In 2008 he received from the European Association of Psychology and Law the ‘Award for Life-time Contribution to Psychology and Law’.  In 2005 he received a Commendation from the London Metropolitan Police for “Innovation and professionalism whilst assisting a complex rape investigation”. 

He has authored/co-authored a large number of research publications.  He regularly acts as an expert witness and conducts workshops/training on investigative interviewing around the world, including in Australia (e.g. at the Western Australia Police Detective School), Belgium, Brazil (e.g. to parts of the national government), Canada (e.g. at the HQ of the Quebec Province Police), China (e.g. at the Beijing Police Academy and the Zheijang Police University), Cyprus (e.g. at the National Police Academy), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (e.g. at an event organized by The Gendarmerie), Germany, Ireland (e.g. at the National Police Training School), Italy, Jamaica (e.g. to the Independent Commission of Investigations), Japan, Kenya, South Korea (e.g. at the National Detective Academy), Malaysia (e.g. at the National Police Academy), Mauritius (at the National Police Academy), Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand (e.g. at various detective training sites), Norway (e.g. at the National Police University), Pakistan (e.g. to terrorism investigators), Poland (e.g. at the National Academy for Border Guards), Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa (e.g. to the Police Behavioural Science Branch), Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (at the National Police University), Thailand (to the Royal Thai Police), USA (e.g. to the ‘HIG’ initiative), Zambia.