Introduction C rime detection is a primary police objective in all countries. One of the most important tools for successful crime detection and investigation is the effective interviewing of victims, witnesses and suspects. The proper and professional conduct of this key police function can greatly contribute to solving crimes and thereby delivering justice and strengthening the rule of law. However, like all tools, it may be of poor quality and it may be conducted by those with inadequate knowledge and insufficient skills. This has all too often manifested itself in the abuse of human rights by the police, particularly in the interrogation of suspects: not only in the past, but continuing into the present. Aware of the need to prevent abuse and professionalise policing standards, the Council of Europe has identified the essential core objective of policing as the protection of human rights. Human rights are not an impediment to effective policing; rather, it is only through human rights that effective policing can be achieved. By policing in compliance with their human rights obligations, police officers rightly earn the respect, confidence and support of the communities they serve. In this way, officers are able to do a better job and achieve greater job satisfaction. These are objectives that all police officers will recognise as worth pursuing. In approaching investigative interviewing, as in all police work, European police officers should be guided by the European Code of Police Ethics, which seeks to secure common professional standards and lay the foundation for ethical norms. At its most basic, this demands that police officers not only act lawfully but also “apply the law with integrity and respect” towards all members of the public, including those members of the public who may be suspected of involvement in crime. ► Page 7