1. Adherence to Achieving Best Evidence Guidelines in Child Forensic Interviews: A Survey of Police Officers in England
Eleanor Coles
MSc Forensic Psychology
Dr. David La Rooy
School of Law
Prof. Amina Memon
Department of Psychology

2. Achieving Best Evidence (ABE)
Government guidance for interviewing witnesses and victims in England and Wales
Specific guidance that relates to children
Under the age of 18 years
Vulnerable witness

3. ABE Child Interview Guidelines
Rapport building
Ground rules
Practise interview/Neutral topic
Free-narrative account with open-ended prompts
Specific questions
Forced-choice questions as last resort
Avoid use of leading and suggestive questions

4. Previous Research
Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (2014)
Child Sexual Abuse Cases
Reviewed 69 recorded ABE interviews
Poor compliance of ABE Guidelines
Practise questions rarely used
Ground rules not always covered
Forced-choice and leading questions where open-ended questions could have been asked
Recommended regular supervisor evaluation and feedback

5. Previous Research La Rooy, Lamb & Memon (2010)
Child Forensic Interviews in Scotland
Concerns raised over adherence to Scottish Executive guidelines
78% no refresher training
60% no feedback
Informal/verbal feedback about investigation

6. Present Study Survey included: One-on-one interviews:
Personal Information
Child Interview Experience
Training
Feedback
Specific interview techniques
One-on-one interviews:
Follow-up to survey
Helps explain findings
Adaptation of the survey used by Dando, Wilcock & Milne (2008) and La Rooy et al. (2010).

7. Sample 77 Respondents from 5 Police Forces 29% Male and 71% Female
87% Constables (75% Detective Constables)
80% ‘Specialist’ & 12% ‘Non-Uniform’
Average Length of Service = 16 years, 3 months
(Range = 6 to 35 years)
Average Time Interviewing Children = 8 years, 3 months
(Range = 1 month – 25 years)
80% included Sexual & Physical Assault, Child Abuse & Neglect

8. Findings 95% attended Specialist Training Course
(Range = 1993 to 2016)
47% attended Refresher Training
(Range = 2009 to 2016)
95% Training Equipped with Necessary Skills
(quite well, very well & extremely well)
88% Full Accounts Obtained
(usually, almost always, always)
61% No Time Pressure
(rarely, never)

9. Findings Regular and ongoing feedback: Maintains high standards
Prevents bad habits
Reinforces skills from training
Self-evaluation
Professional development

10. Findings 58% received No Feedback Verbal feedback No routine feedback
Peer review
Interview content only
Informal
At training only

11. Rapport Building

12. Ground Rules

13. Practise Interview

14. Open Prompts

15. Specific Questions

16. Forced Choice Questions

17. Leading Questions

18. Suggestive Questions

19. Summary General adherence to ABE Guidelines
Some concerns that crucial techniques are not used as frequently as they should be
Concerns with lack of practise interviews
Routine feedback needed
More refresher training