STEP ONE: Planning and preparation Planning and preparation is one of the most important steps in investigative interviewing; without it, interviews may fail before they even begin. Planning is a process of getting ready to interview, both mentally and strategically. Preparation also covers what needs to be ready prior to the interview such as the location of the interview, the environment, as well as technical and administrative matters. It has been argued by busy, sometimes overloaded officers, that they do not have time to plan and prepare. Following the implementation of investigative interviewing, officers have found that they in fact save time through proper planning. Solid preparations decrease the likelihood of having to re-interview victims, witnesses and/or suspects. Solid preparation as part of a professional interview also reduces the resource-draining endeavour of prosecuting cases – only to be dismissed by the courts – due to low evidential value or technicalities. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF GOOD PLANNING • Obtain as much background information as possible on the incident under investigation, including all relevant information on the person to be interviewed • Understand the purpose of the interview based on an investigation plan recognising all the relevant and competing hypotheses to be explored, including the possibility that the suspect is innocent • Assess what additional information is needed and how it can be best obtained • Follow the legislation and associated guidelines and rules • Prepare the technicalities of the interview (attending to exhibits, logistics, venue, equipment functioning, seating, lawyer, interpreter, and so on). STEP TWO: Introduction and building rapport The first step to encouraging a conversation is to engage the interviewee and establish rapport. To engage and explain is described as the most influential factor in ensuring productive interviews. At the outset the interviewee must be informed why they have been brought in for questioning and of the formalities that apply. Officers must be aware that being interviewed can make people nervous and conversation that calms the interviewee may be needed. However, interviewers shall not work towards a pretend ”friendship” with interviewees. The aim is to engage the interviewee so that a cooperative and relaxed relationship – one that stimulates memory and communication – is sustained throughout the interview. CTI Training Tools 1/2017: Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Cases  esearch has established that a substantial R proportion of guilty offenders are ready to provide an accurate account and even confess right away, while others are undecided when summoned for interviewing. Officers applying an aggressive, hostile or insulting approach run the risk of making the suspect decide not to cooperate and not to provide any information; whereas it has been found that applying investigative interviewing techniques is more likely to encourage guilty offenders to cooperate and provide information or even confess. Holmberg and Christianson (2002), Swedish survey of 83 prisoners convicted of murder or sexual offences; Kebbell, Hurren & Mazerolle (2006), Australian survey of convicted sex offenders; similar findings in Snook, Brooks and Bull (2015), survey of 100 incarcerated men in Canada. 5/12