The interview process W hile its discrete phases may be broken down and labelled differently, there will be little variation in the precise structure of a properly structured investigative interview. Over years of practice a robust and efficient questioning framework has been constructed comprising a number of key stages. These should be followed in a systematic way. The process for this is set out below, and while it may appear to flow in only one direction, there may be times when an investigator has to go back to an earlier stage. An example of this would be where, during questioning, the suspect changes their story and admits guilt in the face of challenging evidence presented by the interviewer. This will require going back to the “account” phase and inviting a new explanation from the suspect as to what happened. Nevertheless, the success or otherwise of each phase will significantly influence the following stage. Each phase is set out separately below. A brief note on building rapport It is essential that as an interviewer you establish and maintain rapport with those whom you interview. This means adopting an open and interested approach that treats the person with respect and is not influenced by personal views or bias. This approach shows a genuine interest in the interviewee and is supported by the interviewer being communicative and helpful. It does not mean that you like the interviewee or share their values or views. Your personal feelings should not affect your approach or stand in the way of building rapport and trust, which have been shown to motivate interviewees, even hardened terrorists, into divulging accurate, reliable and important information. Rapport is a fundamental requisite for good interviewing. Building rapport is critical. Skilled interviewers with experience of dealing with the most serious and hardened offenders, including terrorists, all emphasise the need to build rapport in order to obtain information. Do not confuse “rapport” as meaning that you in any way condone the offences under investigation or that you have a personal liking for the person being questioned. Look for opportunities to empathise with the suspect, where for example they may refer to some difficulty they are experiencing in relating information or stress they feel over being interviewed, which allow you to acknowledge these feelings and express understanding. ► Page 21