Introduction to PEACE Model

Introduction to PEACE Model

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The PEACE MODEL

The name “PEACE” is a mnemonic device whose letters stand for the four stages of the model: (1) preparation and planning, (2) engage and explain, (3) account, and (4) closure and evaluation.

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These Core skills have been identified and need to be developed in conducting successful investigative interviews.

WHY PEACE

The positives:

•Development of Consistent & professional interviews

•Improved investigations

•Grounded in psychological science

•Cognitive interview

•Managing conversation

•Reduce lost statements in court – defendable interview tactics

Why Peace

•Increased quality of info from witnesses and victims

•Focus on gathering info

•Addresses inquiry concerns

•Increases public confidence

•Reduces interviewee resentment

•Fewer suspects change story 

interviewing philosophy

•Obtain information, gather evidence & seek truth

•Open mindedness

•Avoid prejudice – act fairly

•Persistent questioning is ok!

•Questioning the silent interviewee is ok

Multiple Choice

1. What does the PEACE model stand for?

• a. Preparation, explaining, activating, closure and evaluation

• b. Preparation and planning, engage and explain, account, and closure and evaluation

• c. Persuasion, evasion, alibi, construction, and examination

• d. Persuasion, examination, account, convincing and evaluation

Persistent Questioning is OK

•Questioning is not unfair because it is persistent

•If little info or seems unreliable persistent (but careful) questioning is encouraged

•Even if right to silence is exercised, you can still ask questions (R vs. Singh, 2007)

•Give interviewee time to respond

•Ask all relevant questions needed to be asked

Youth and Vulnerable

•Must be treated with particular consideration at all times

•Youth

•Intimidated witness

•Those who can’t represent themselves well

•Make sure they understand

•Have appropriate adult present

Professional Relationship

•Establish trust

•Fuller and more open account

•More accurate account

•How you talk to people signals kind of relationship that exists

•Be professional – even in your appearance

Methodical

•Plan interview

•Follow plan

•Logical sequence of questions

•Allow time for answer to be given (use pauses)

•Probe answers

•Summarize answers

•Link to topic

•Cover all points needed to prove offence

Personal Style

Interviewees who are given a personal interview are more forthcoming, more accurate, and provide more relevant information than those who are interviewed in a formal, rigid style.

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•Build a rapport

•Be genuinely open

•Be interested and approachable

Where to Interview

•Location affects relationship established

•Appropriate facilities

•Frequently conducted wherever it is convenient to ask questions.

•Message – overcome drawback of setting

ORDER OF QUESTIONS AFFECTS RECALL

•If the order of questions conflicts with the witness’s mental image of the observation, recall may be obstructed.

•Organize your questions- Sequence of events.

•After actively listening and making rough notes -organize notes. Try to ask your questions in sequence. May not always work

•if your witness goes off topic let them flow and come back to it later. You may have triggered something in your witnesses recall.

•You may find your witness recall is better. 

PEACE - planning and Prep

•Very important phase for effective interview

•Always carried out regardless of interview

•Be ready for an ethical and effective interview

PEACE - Planning and Prep

Before interview starts:

1.Contribution to investigation

2.What is known about interviewee

3.Legal requirements

4.Points to prove

5.Practical arrangements

6.Route-map & questions

Contribution to investigation

•What do you want to achieve?

•Needs of investigation considered

•How can evidence help establish truth

•Questions to ask yourself?

•Which persons need to be interviewed?

•What order?

•Why is interviewee’s viewpoint important?

•What info do I need now?

•Should I interview now or wait till I have more info

•Should I conduct the interview?

Multiple Choice

In the PEACE model planning and preparation is not an important phase for an effective interview

• True

• False

Interviewee Characteristics

•Age

•Gender

•Domestic circumstances

•Cultural background

•Educational background

•Intellectual ability 

Interviewee Characteristics

•Physical health

•Mental health

•Previous police contact

•Report of incident

•Traumatic experience

Consider Legal Obligations

•Rights to silence & legal counsel

•Knowledge of Confession rule

•Case Law

•CC definitions

Practical Arrangements

•Visit scene?

•Orient yourself with scene of crime

•Determine location of interview:

•Urgent interview?

•Person’s house? Appropriate?

•If not police station – reduce noise & distractions

•Memory requires concentration = quiet location

Practical Arrangements

Role of Interviewers

•2 officers (interviewers) established before interview

•No interruptions by 2nd interviewer

•Plan ahead when 2nd interviewer can talk – end of topic, end of interview

•May suspend interview – revise plan

•TIME – allow enough!!!

•Record all interviews (audio & visual)

when to conduct the interview

•ASAP after event

•Forgetting starts immediately

•When to delay?

•Highly anxious persons

•Be aware of following:

•Are they calm?

•Can they follow instructions?

•Can they perform intensive memory retrieval

Create Route Map & Questions

Structure of interview = ROUTE MAP

•Order of topic/evidence presentation

Opening question

•What questions to follow

•Go for guts of offence

Be prepared for:

•Full cooperation and partial

•Dishonesty

•Silence – refusal to be interviewed

make a well written plan

•Interviewee – who is it?

•File # & date

•What is offence?

•Points to prove

•Possible involvement / defenses

•Purpose of interview

•Facts already established

•Facts need to be established

Multiple Choice

The PEACE model is an inquisitorial approach that focuses on obtaining as much information as possible from a person during an interview.

• True

• False

advokate

Amount of time under observation

Distance between eyewitness & incident

Visibility – time of day, lighting

Obstructions – to view

Known or seen before

Any reason to remember – something specific

Time lapse between witness seeing suspect

Errors or material discrepancies

Are you the right interviewer?

You

•Only you – have appropriate knowledge, understanding, skills, attitude and behaviour to do it

The Offence

•Too emotional for you?   

Compatibility

•Age, gender, culture & ethnicity  

second interviewer

•Internal monitor

•Keeps track of course of interview, note-taker, keeping record of disclosure or change in behaviour

•Participates on invitation as per plan

•Should be explained in preamble

•Use system to signal turn taking between interviewers – previously decided upon

duration

•Around 40 min intervals – have clear break after every 40 min

•Let nature take course

•Restore mentally and physiologically

•Reflect on interview

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an element comprising ADVOKATE? (PEACE model)

• a. Attitude

• b. Amount of time under observation

• c. Exaggeration

• d. Expectations of truthful account