Police interviewers’ experiences of the Tactical Interview Model (TIM): an exploratory study of suspect interviewing in Norway

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to qualitatively explore how police investigators in Norway experience interviewing suspects. Specifically, we sought to investigate the relationship between theory (the Tactical Interview Model) and practice concerning how police interviewers establish the interviewee’s account and disclose potential evidence-related information. To explore processes relevant to the research objective, four focus group interviews of police interviewers were conducted (n = 29). The data was analysed using a thematic analysis which resulted in four main themes: (1) Planning and preparing: considering potentially evidence-relevant information – Its possible value, alternative explanations, and influence on the interview process, (2) Establishing rapport and balancing dilemmas: Providing sufficient information without affecting the interviewee’s account, (3) Exploring the interviewee’s account through questioning and ‘closing doors’, and (4) Challenge through clarification: disclosure of potential evidence-related information and adapting to the interviewee. The findings are discussed in relation to the Tactical Interview Model. Implications for practice and future directions are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Police interviewing
• investigation
• suspect
• Tactical Interview Model
• Norway

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Statement

The authors declare that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere. The authors report no conflict of interest.

Notes

1 PEACE is the mnemonic acronym for the five stages of interviewing: Planning and preparation; Engage and explain; Account, clarify and challenge; Closure; and Evaluation.

2 The acronym KREATIV refers to the Norwegian terms for: communication, the rule of law, ethics and empathy, active awareness, trust through openness, information and scientific basis. The acronym denotes the overarching values and principles which require to be adhered to in implementing PEACE based structured interviews.