How Intuitive is PEACE? Newly Recruited Police Officers' Plans, Interviews and Self-Evaluations

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the spontaneous interviewing skills of 43 newly recruited police officers (i.e., untrained recruits) with reference to the five stages of the internationally adopted PEACE model of interviewing (Preparation and planning; Engage and explain; Account, clarification and challenge [Account]; Closure; and Evaluation). University students acted as witnesses and watched a short video of a mock assault before being individually interviewed by one of the recruits. The recruits’ resulting plans, interviews and self-evaluations were then coded to determine how closely they adhered to the PEACE model. The recruits focused on the Account stage in their plans and interviews with little attention given to the Engage and explain or Closure stages of the model. In self-evaluations of their interviews, the recruits recognised the need to further develop aspects of the Engage and explain and Closure stages. These new findings can be used to ensure interview training is presented at a suitable level and targets the least intuitive aspects of the interview process.

Key words:

• interviewing skills
• interviews
• PEACE model
• plans
• police
• self-evaluations
• untrained recruits

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Western Australia Police Academy for its support during the development of this research and highlight that the views expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the policies or views of the Western Australia Police. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution Pamela Henry made to the conceptualisation of the research, as well as the assistance of Jonathon Williams, Laura Goodwin and Nikki Rajakaruna during the running of the research.