Evaluating police interviewing practices with suspects in child-sexual abuse cases

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Read, Julianne
Powell, Martine
Kebbell, Mark
Milne, Becky
Steinberg, Rebecca
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2014
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Abstract

This article examined adherence to current best practice recommendations for police interviewing of individuals suspected of committing child-sexual offences. We analysed 81 police records of interviews (electronically recorded and then transcribed) with suspects in child-sexual abuse cases in England and Australia. Overall we found areas of skilled practice, indicating that police interviewing in Australia and England is in a far better place than 20 years ago. However, this study also demonstrated that there is still a gap between the recommended guidelines for interviewing and what actually happens in practice. Specifically, limitations were found in the following areas: transparency of the interview process; introduction of allegations; disclosure of evidence; questioning techniques; and the interviewing approach or manner adopted. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.

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Policing & Society

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24

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5

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Criminology

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Policy and administration not elsewhere classified

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Political science

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