STEP THREE: First free account Having established rapport and explained the ground rules for the interview, interviewers should now allow the interviewee to present their uninterrupted (free) account of the case (or event) under investigation. It is essential that the interviewee is provided with the opportunity to present “their side of the story”, before more detailed questions are asked. Extensive research has shown that if the interviewer follows the steps outlined below, chances of obtaining a detailed and accurate account from victims, witnesses and suspects of crime, increases significantly. THE THREE MAIN STEPS FOR THE INTERVIEWER ARE TO: • Introduce and explain the form and purpose of the free and uninterrupted account • Hand over the initiative (“give the floor”) to the victim, witness or suspect (as applicable) • Employ active listening while the interviewee presents the free and uninterrupted account Do … Active listening assists the interviewer to establish rapport and help elicit a full and accurate account. Particularly helpful at this stage is the Tell, Explain, Describe Show Me – Precisely, In detail, Exactly approach to interviews. A useful memory aid for this approach is the mnemonic “TED’S PIE”: Describe Tell me Explain Show me Exactly Precisely In detail “ Listening skills are probably the most underrated and important skills a good interviewer can have”. Professor Ray Bull, Keynote address at the International Congress of Psychology, Yokohama, Japan, July, 2016. Using this approach helps build rapport and prevents the interviewer contaminating the account being given. The TED’S PIE-approach makes use of encouragements/invitations to obtain an account. Don`t … It is well-documented that interviewers that ask closed, or leading questions, run the risk of contaminating the interviewee’s account. Contamination refers both to distortion of genuine memories and unintentional leaking of details from the crime, which reduces the evidential value of the subsequent statements. Example of a good way to introduce the first free account: Officer: “So, if you have no further questions for me on the interviewing process, I would like to hear your response to the charges against you. I can see from the file that you told the arresting officer that you acted in self-defence. Now, I would like to hear your detailed account of what happened. It is important that you include all details. Do not leave anything out. What may not seem important to you may be important for the investigation. Take the time you need. I will not interrupt. When you are ready, please describe exactly and in detail what happened last night. Tell me everything.” CTI Training Tools 1/2017: Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Cases 7/12