One way or another? Criminal investigators' beliefs regarding the disclosure of evidence in interviews with suspects in England and Wales

The research base concerning interviews with suspects remains to be comprehensively developed. For example, the extant literature provides differing views regarding how best to undertake the important interview task of disclosing evidence. In the current study, using a self-report questionnaire, 224 investigators based in England and Wales were asked as to their own preferred methods. Most respondents advocated a gradual method of disclosing evidence, stating that this approach would better reveal inconsistencies and obtain a complete version of events (similar to the reasoning of those who preferred disclosing evidence later). Those who advocated revealing evidence early stated this approach would more likely elicit confessions. Several respondents would not commit to one single method, arguing that their chosen strategy was contextually dependent. The study’s findings suggest that it remains arguable as to whether there is one best approach to evidence disclosure and/or whether particular circumstances should influence interviewing strategies.

The research base concerning interviews with
suspects remains to be comprehensively developed. For
example, the extant literature provides differing views
regarding how best to undertake the important interview
task of disclosing evidence. In the current study, using a
self-report questionnaire, 224 investigators based in
England and Wales were asked as to their own preferred
methods. Most respondents advocated a gradual method
of disclosing evidence, stating that this approach would
better reveal inconsistencies and obtain a complete version
of events (similar to the reasoning of those who
preferred disclosing evidence later). Those who advocated
revealing evidence early stated this approach would
more likely elicit confessions. Several respondents
would not commit to one single method, arguing that
their chosen strategy was contextually dependent. The
study’s findings suggest that it remains arguable as to
whether there is one best approach to evidence disclosure
and/or whether particular circumstances should influence
interviewing strategies.

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