Improving the delivery of justice for victims, witnesses and society: Field Trials of the Self Administered Interview Recall Tool
Lead Research Organisation:
Abertay University
Department Name: Sch of Social and Health Sciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
Publications
Alana Krix (Author)
(2012)
The effectiveness of the Self-Administered Interview when the witness was distracted during the crime
Alana Krix (Author)
(2012)
Exploring the memory-preserving effect of the Self-Administered Interview
Brewer N
(2018)
Interviewing witnesses: Eliciting coarse-grain information.
in Law and human behavior
Dando, C.
(2011)
Toward assisting older witnesses and victims to give best evidence
Fiona Gabbert (Author)
(2011)
Field trials of the self-administered interview (SAI) recall tool with real eye-witnesses
Flowe HD
(2019)
An experimental examination of the effects of alcohol consumption and exposure to misleading postevent information on remembering a hypothetical rape scenario.
in Applied cognitive psychology
Gabbert F
(2012)
Protecting Against Misleading Post-event Information with a Self-Administered Interview
in Applied Cognitive Psychology
Gabbert F
(2020)
Examining the efficacy of a self-administered report form in missing person investigations
in Legal and Criminological Psychology
Gabbert F
(2018)
Investigation: Psychology into practice
| Description | Our research has produced a novel recall tool called the 'Self-Administered Interview' (SAI©) that was developed and tested in a controlled lab-based setting, and later field-tested with eyewitnesses to real crimes. The Follow-on-Funding award provided us with the resources necessary to (i) establish, co-ordinate and manage the field-trials and (ii) engage in knowledge-exchange activity with end-users. Our research has produced significant scientific impact in the academic field in the following ways: a) The project represents a clear (and rare) instance of scientific research progressing from a controlled lab-environment into an applied context. As such our work has attracted significant interest from our academic peers. It has achieved scientific impact by providing researchers with a solid example of the merits of using applied field-based methodology to reach evidence-based conclusions. b) Our research findings have advanced empirical understanding of witness memory. Specifically, we have shown that an early recall opportunity can protect against forgetting, and against the negative influences of post-event information. c) We have directly impacted on the academic community by generating new lines of research. To our knowledge, at least ten research laboratories internationally are now using the SAI© for research purposes to build upon our initial findings. For example, exploring the efficacy of the SAI© in new contexts (accident investigation), and with different populations (older adults). In direct recognition of these impacts, Dr. Gabbert was recently awarded an Academic Excellence prize by the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group in recognition of Outstanding Achievements in the area of Investigative Interviewing. Field trials commenced in January 2010 to establish whether the SAI© can demonstrate practical and evidential benefits to police investigations. Twenty-seven forces (20 from the UK) are currently involved in trials. Feedback from participating forces has been overwhelmingly positive. The SAI© has made an important contribution to a number of live investigations by providing detailed initial accounts, prioritising witnesses, and facilitating the identification of additional witnesses, in incidents including serious road-traffic incidents, assaults, robberies, and including the terrorist attack on Norway in June 2011. In short, the trials have clearly demonstrated that the SAI© can be used simply and efficiently, at low cost, with minimal drain on resources, to obtain high quality information from victims and witnesses. A Summary Report containing feedback from forces participating in the trials was submitted to The Association of Chief Police Officers in October 2011, 2013, and is currently under review again in 2017. This group may consider officially endorsing the SAI© so that it becomes a recognised procedural response for forces in England and Wales. The field-trials have also generated interest from charities concerned with the delivery of justice for victims. For instance, RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, are actively campaigning for the SAI© to be standard procedure for obtaining evidence relating to road-traffic-accidents. Victim Support are consulting with local police forces to explore how the SAI© could be used to obtain statements from victims who do not want to press charges at the time of initial disclosure (e.g. domestic abuse). In sum, our primary output that has had the most significant impact is a scientifically validated recall tool - the Self-Administered Interview. This is an evidence-based investigatory tool that has been tested in controlled laboratory studies, and subsequently in field-tests with real witnesses. The SAI© is available to police forces internationally. It is currently part of standard police policy and procedure in The Netherlands and in Norway. To date, we have disseminated our findings at multiple international conferences. Published outputs include not only our own peer reviewed publications (including an invited article), but also publications authored by researchers outwith our team. |
| Exploitation Route | The SAI© has been used to obtain evidence in Health and Safety Investigations, including serious incidents on an off-shore oil-rig. We expect to continue our work on the SAI© for several years to come as novel opportunities for use and development of the tool continue to present themselves. Our findings have influenced the work of other researchers, who have replicated and extended our findings. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy,Other |
| URL | http://www.selfadministeredinterview.com |
| Description | Our primary output that has had the most significant impact is a scientifically validated recall tool - the Self-Administered Interview. This is an evidence-based investigatory tool that has been tested in controlled laboratory studies, and subsequently in field-tests with real witnesses. The SAI© is now available to UK police forces. Our findings and outputs can be seen in an Impact Case Study submitted to REF 2014 (see http://impact.ref.ac.uk/CaseStudies/CaseStudy.aspx?Id=44549). This was given the highest rating by the judging panel. In sum, our findings have had an impact upon the following: Policy-Makers: A Summary Report has been submitted to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Support for the SAI© at the ACPO level will ensure a direct impact on policing policy, practice and procedure. The SAI© is a Strategic Recommendation in the new (2018) Authorised Professional Practice Guidelines (produced by the College of Policing, UK) for Obtaining Initial Accounts from Victims and Witnesses. Police Practitioners: The SAI© is a cost-effective evidence-based scientifically-validated recall tool that enables the police to obtain evidence quickly and efficiently, even when minimal resources are available. It has already been used by witnesses and victims to real crimes in the UK and abroad and secured vital evidence to facilitate investigations. Most recently, the SAI© was used to obtain statements from multiple members of the public who were witness to the terrorist attack in Oslo, Norway (July 2011), in which 77 people were killed. UPDATE 2019/20 - • The National Crime Agency made a strategic recommendation to implement the SAI within the Witness Interview Strategy for Critical Incidents • The Independent Office for Police Conduct revised their policy to suggest that the SAI can be used by officers submitting personal initial accounts on incidents of death or serious injury • A Research Briefing issued by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology referenced use of the SAI as a means to improving witness testimony UPDATE 2018/19 - • Strategic recommendation to use SAI in the new Authorised Professional Practice guidelines for Obtaining First Accounts from victims and witnesses: guidance for first responders (2018); • Strategic recommendation to use SAI in critical-incident management due to acknowledged increase in amount/strength of evidence • The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. A branch of the OSCE (the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine) have integrated use of the SAI into their standard operation post-incident reporting procedure as of 2018. Societal Level: Obtaining good quality, reliable evidence is vital for the investigation process, the pursuit of justice, and preventing miscarriages of justice. Use of the SAI© in criminal investigations therefore supports the criminal justice system, by providing witnesses and victims with an opportunity to record a high quality statement at minimal delay, in situations where limited resources mean that police officers may not able to interview witnesses immediately. Other End-Users: The SAI© has been used to obtain evidence in Health & Safety Investigations, including two serious incidents on an off-shore oil-rig. |
| Sector | Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Academic Advisor on the College of Policing's Investigative Interviewing Guideline Committee |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Changes to Investigative Interviewing Policy and Practice in the UK |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The SAI© is recommended for use by police in post-incident management (of major incidents). Draft statutory guidance was released Feb 22nd, 2017. |
| Description | Changes to Investigative Interviewing Policy and Practice in the UK |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | To attract the attention of UK police forces an extensive knowledge-exchange strategy with end-users was implemented, which included disseminating findings at practitioner conferences, in practitioner magazines, and by creating and promoting a website (www.selfadministeredinterview.com). Twenty-seven forces (20 from the UK) are currently involved in the field trials, which commenced in January 2010. Field trials with police forces have proven the SAI© can facilitate an investigation by obtaining critical information quickly and effectively. In particular, the SAI© has made an important contribution to a number of live investigations by providing detailed initial accounts, prioritising witnesses, and facilitating the identification of additional witnesses. Feedback from forces has been overwhelmingly positive. A quote from an end-user highlights the real-world impact of this research: "Notably, the SAI is the first empirically-derived interviewing practice development that has been presented to the police in almost 20 years, probably the most valuable additional tool placed at our disposal in the world of investigative interviewing since the adoption of the 'PEACE' model of interviewing in the early 1990s, and the introduction of the enhanced cognitive interview model." (Ian Hynes, Force Specialist Investigative Interview Manager and Advisor, Greater Manchester Police, UK). The SAI© has been accepted in court on a few occasions now. For example, In December 2011, Greater Manchester Police reported on the successful prosecution of a case of violent assault where the SAI© played a central role as part of the investigative interviewing strategy. Use of the SAI© was addressed in Court and challenged by the defense. However, on presentation of information concerning the SAI©, all challenges were abandoned and the rationale for use of the SAI© in the case was fully accepted by the Court. |
| Description | Changes to Investigative Interviewing Policy and Practice overseas |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The SAI© has now been translated into a number of languages at the request of international police forces. Some examples of how the SAI© has changed policy and practice of investigative interviews follow. Norway: The Norwegian translation of the SAI© is the Selvadministrert Forklaring. Information and training concerning the SAI© has been introduced for all Norwegian police officers at the basic training level, as well as at more specialist levels. Furthermore, the SAI© currently forms part of the official curriculum for investigative interview training (over 1500 officers have been trained in the SAI© to date). The SAI© has been identified as "Good Practice" in the investigative interview training curriculum. The Netherlands: The Dutch translation of the SAI© is the Zelfrapportage voor Getuigen (ZeG). In December 2012, the SAI© was approved for national rollout across The Netherlands. Training in the ZeG is now a mandatory component of police training curricula, including 'Crime Scene Management' and 'Criminal Investigations in Comprehensive Cases'. |
| Description | Strategic recommendation to use the SAI in new APP guidance for Initial Account Interviews with Victims and Witnesses |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | The new Authorised Professional Practice guidelines for 'Obtaining First Accounts from victims and witnesses: guidance for first responders' features a strategic recommendation to use Self Administered Interview |
| Description | Strategic recommendation to use the SAI in new OSCE standard operation post-incident reporting procedure |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Impact | The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. A branch of the OSCE (the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine) have integrated use of the SAI into their standard operation post-incident reporting procedure as of 2018. |
| Description | Strategic recommendation to use the SAI in new police interview guidance |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | • Strategic recommendation to use SAI in the new Authorised Professional Practice guidelines for Obtaining First Accounts from victims and witnesses: guidance for first responders (2018) • Strategic recommendation to use SAI in critical-incident management due to acknowledged increase in amount/strength of evidence |
| Description | Enhancing witness account capture through digital technology |
| Amount | £3,140 (GBP) |
| Organisation | CHERISH-de escalator fund |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 06/2017 |
| Description | Road Safety Trust Research Grants |
| Amount | £77,884 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Road Safety Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2018 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | Collaboration with National Crime Agency Missing Persons Unit |
| Organisation | National Crime Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We have created a bespoke version of the Self Administered Interview for use in Missing Persons Investigations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Missing Persons Unit has been instrumental in advising on investigations, arranging focus groups, facilitating field trials of the tool, etc. |
| Impact | A peer reviewed academic article has been published |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Partnerships with the Police |
| Organisation | Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We developed the Self-Administered Interview (SAI) tool, and conducted academic research in the form of controlled lab-based studies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Small revisions were made to the SAI following suggestions from end-users (the police). Various police forces in the UK and internationally have piloted the SAI, and have contributed to end-user surveys. Force-champions (whose role it is to promote use of the SAI within force) have engaged in joint dissemination activities with the academic team. |
| Impact | To date, approximately 1000 officers within the Greater Manchester Police force, have been trained with respect to the origins, purpose and procedures relating to the SAI©. Specifically officers and senior investigators are trained how to make use of the SAI in appropriate daily operational context and identify when use of the SAI© will contribute to a criminal investigation. Training is delivered in both classroom and modular online formats that have been specially prepared within GMP. Use of the SAI© is also taught on all formal Investigative Interviewing Courses (approximately 20 courses per year) as a 'proactive investigative tool '. Furthermore, via the North West Regional Investigative Interview Champions branch, Senior Interview Advisors at regional forces including Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales have also received training about the SAI© as part of our cross-force dissemination of information about good practice. Similarly in Norway, where a Norwegian translation of the SAI© has been prepared (known as Selvadministrert Forklaring), information and training concerning the SAI© has been introduced for all police officers at the basic training level and also at more specialist levels. The SAI© currently forms part of the official curriculum for investigative interview training and, to date, approximately 1500 officers have been trained in the SAI©. In Norway, the SAI© is progressing to nation-wide approval and has been identified as "Good Practice" in the investigative interview training curriculum. Finally, in The Netherlands, the SAI© is available in a Dutch translation, known as the ZeG (Zelfrapportage voor Getuigen). In December 2012, the SAI was approved for national rollout across The Netherlands. Training in the SAI (ZeG) is now a mandatory component of some police training curricula, including 'Crime Scene Management' and 'Criminal Investigations in Comprehensive Cases'. To date, approximately 550 officers have been trained; this number is rapidly increasing. In the UK, A number of forces are currently evaluating the SAI© while others have established the SAI© as an official force form (e.g. Greater Manchester Police). Other international forces, including forces in Australia, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Germany and Singapore are pursuing integration of the SAI with current training and investigative practice. To date, the research team have been contacted directly by approximately 30 police forces in the UK and abroad - clearly, there is significant interest in the SAI©. However, the staggered nature of recruitment (due to the responsive mode) has meant that forces have contacted us at very different times and are, therefore, at very different stages of evaluation. For instance, GMP was an early entrant to force trials and has now officially adopted the tool as a force form. As a result, the majority of our Case Studies and evaluations to date have been drawn from GMP. The majority of the forces who have expressed an interest in the SAI© are currently working on putting procedures in place to embark on within-force evaluations. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Partnerships with the Police |
| Organisation | College of Policing |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We developed the Self-Administered Interview (SAI) tool, and conducted academic research in the form of controlled lab-based studies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Small revisions were made to the SAI following suggestions from end-users (the police). Various police forces in the UK and internationally have piloted the SAI, and have contributed to end-user surveys. Force-champions (whose role it is to promote use of the SAI within force) have engaged in joint dissemination activities with the academic team. |
| Impact | To date, approximately 1000 officers within the Greater Manchester Police force, have been trained with respect to the origins, purpose and procedures relating to the SAI©. Specifically officers and senior investigators are trained how to make use of the SAI in appropriate daily operational context and identify when use of the SAI© will contribute to a criminal investigation. Training is delivered in both classroom and modular online formats that have been specially prepared within GMP. Use of the SAI© is also taught on all formal Investigative Interviewing Courses (approximately 20 courses per year) as a 'proactive investigative tool '. Furthermore, via the North West Regional Investigative Interview Champions branch, Senior Interview Advisors at regional forces including Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales have also received training about the SAI© as part of our cross-force dissemination of information about good practice. Similarly in Norway, where a Norwegian translation of the SAI© has been prepared (known as Selvadministrert Forklaring), information and training concerning the SAI© has been introduced for all police officers at the basic training level and also at more specialist levels. The SAI© currently forms part of the official curriculum for investigative interview training and, to date, approximately 1500 officers have been trained in the SAI©. In Norway, the SAI© is progressing to nation-wide approval and has been identified as "Good Practice" in the investigative interview training curriculum. Finally, in The Netherlands, the SAI© is available in a Dutch translation, known as the ZeG (Zelfrapportage voor Getuigen). In December 2012, the SAI was approved for national rollout across The Netherlands. Training in the SAI (ZeG) is now a mandatory component of some police training curricula, including 'Crime Scene Management' and 'Criminal Investigations in Comprehensive Cases'. To date, approximately 550 officers have been trained; this number is rapidly increasing. In the UK, A number of forces are currently evaluating the SAI© while others have established the SAI© as an official force form (e.g. Greater Manchester Police). Other international forces, including forces in Australia, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Germany and Singapore are pursuing integration of the SAI with current training and investigative practice. To date, the research team have been contacted directly by approximately 30 police forces in the UK and abroad - clearly, there is significant interest in the SAI©. However, the staggered nature of recruitment (due to the responsive mode) has meant that forces have contacted us at very different times and are, therefore, at very different stages of evaluation. For instance, GMP was an early entrant to force trials and has now officially adopted the tool as a force form. As a result, the majority of our Case Studies and evaluations to date have been drawn from GMP. The majority of the forces who have expressed an interest in the SAI© are currently working on putting procedures in place to embark on within-force evaluations. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Partnerships with the Police |
| Organisation | Greater Manchester Police |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We developed the Self-Administered Interview (SAI) tool, and conducted academic research in the form of controlled lab-based studies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Small revisions were made to the SAI following suggestions from end-users (the police). Various police forces in the UK and internationally have piloted the SAI, and have contributed to end-user surveys. Force-champions (whose role it is to promote use of the SAI within force) have engaged in joint dissemination activities with the academic team. |
| Impact | To date, approximately 1000 officers within the Greater Manchester Police force, have been trained with respect to the origins, purpose and procedures relating to the SAI©. Specifically officers and senior investigators are trained how to make use of the SAI in appropriate daily operational context and identify when use of the SAI© will contribute to a criminal investigation. Training is delivered in both classroom and modular online formats that have been specially prepared within GMP. Use of the SAI© is also taught on all formal Investigative Interviewing Courses (approximately 20 courses per year) as a 'proactive investigative tool '. Furthermore, via the North West Regional Investigative Interview Champions branch, Senior Interview Advisors at regional forces including Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales have also received training about the SAI© as part of our cross-force dissemination of information about good practice. Similarly in Norway, where a Norwegian translation of the SAI© has been prepared (known as Selvadministrert Forklaring), information and training concerning the SAI© has been introduced for all police officers at the basic training level and also at more specialist levels. The SAI© currently forms part of the official curriculum for investigative interview training and, to date, approximately 1500 officers have been trained in the SAI©. In Norway, the SAI© is progressing to nation-wide approval and has been identified as "Good Practice" in the investigative interview training curriculum. Finally, in The Netherlands, the SAI© is available in a Dutch translation, known as the ZeG (Zelfrapportage voor Getuigen). In December 2012, the SAI was approved for national rollout across The Netherlands. Training in the SAI (ZeG) is now a mandatory component of some police training curricula, including 'Crime Scene Management' and 'Criminal Investigations in Comprehensive Cases'. To date, approximately 550 officers have been trained; this number is rapidly increasing. In the UK, A number of forces are currently evaluating the SAI© while others have established the SAI© as an official force form (e.g. Greater Manchester Police). Other international forces, including forces in Australia, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Germany and Singapore are pursuing integration of the SAI with current training and investigative practice. To date, the research team have been contacted directly by approximately 30 police forces in the UK and abroad - clearly, there is significant interest in the SAI©. However, the staggered nature of recruitment (due to the responsive mode) has meant that forces have contacted us at very different times and are, therefore, at very different stages of evaluation. For instance, GMP was an early entrant to force trials and has now officially adopted the tool as a force form. As a result, the majority of our Case Studies and evaluations to date have been drawn from GMP. The majority of the forces who have expressed an interest in the SAI© are currently working on putting procedures in place to embark on within-force evaluations. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Partnerships with the Police |
| Organisation | Netherlands Police |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We developed the Self-Administered Interview (SAI) tool, and conducted academic research in the form of controlled lab-based studies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Small revisions were made to the SAI following suggestions from end-users (the police). Various police forces in the UK and internationally have piloted the SAI, and have contributed to end-user surveys. Force-champions (whose role it is to promote use of the SAI within force) have engaged in joint dissemination activities with the academic team. |
| Impact | To date, approximately 1000 officers within the Greater Manchester Police force, have been trained with respect to the origins, purpose and procedures relating to the SAI©. Specifically officers and senior investigators are trained how to make use of the SAI in appropriate daily operational context and identify when use of the SAI© will contribute to a criminal investigation. Training is delivered in both classroom and modular online formats that have been specially prepared within GMP. Use of the SAI© is also taught on all formal Investigative Interviewing Courses (approximately 20 courses per year) as a 'proactive investigative tool '. Furthermore, via the North West Regional Investigative Interview Champions branch, Senior Interview Advisors at regional forces including Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales have also received training about the SAI© as part of our cross-force dissemination of information about good practice. Similarly in Norway, where a Norwegian translation of the SAI© has been prepared (known as Selvadministrert Forklaring), information and training concerning the SAI© has been introduced for all police officers at the basic training level and also at more specialist levels. The SAI© currently forms part of the official curriculum for investigative interview training and, to date, approximately 1500 officers have been trained in the SAI©. In Norway, the SAI© is progressing to nation-wide approval and has been identified as "Good Practice" in the investigative interview training curriculum. Finally, in The Netherlands, the SAI© is available in a Dutch translation, known as the ZeG (Zelfrapportage voor Getuigen). In December 2012, the SAI was approved for national rollout across The Netherlands. Training in the SAI (ZeG) is now a mandatory component of some police training curricula, including 'Crime Scene Management' and 'Criminal Investigations in Comprehensive Cases'. To date, approximately 550 officers have been trained; this number is rapidly increasing. In the UK, A number of forces are currently evaluating the SAI© while others have established the SAI© as an official force form (e.g. Greater Manchester Police). Other international forces, including forces in Australia, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Germany and Singapore are pursuing integration of the SAI with current training and investigative practice. To date, the research team have been contacted directly by approximately 30 police forces in the UK and abroad - clearly, there is significant interest in the SAI©. However, the staggered nature of recruitment (due to the responsive mode) has meant that forces have contacted us at very different times and are, therefore, at very different stages of evaluation. For instance, GMP was an early entrant to force trials and has now officially adopted the tool as a force form. As a result, the majority of our Case Studies and evaluations to date have been drawn from GMP. The majority of the forces who have expressed an interest in the SAI© are currently working on putting procedures in place to embark on within-force evaluations. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Partnerships with the Police |
| Organisation | Norwegian Police |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We developed the Self-Administered Interview (SAI) tool, and conducted academic research in the form of controlled lab-based studies. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Small revisions were made to the SAI following suggestions from end-users (the police). Various police forces in the UK and internationally have piloted the SAI, and have contributed to end-user surveys. Force-champions (whose role it is to promote use of the SAI within force) have engaged in joint dissemination activities with the academic team. |
| Impact | To date, approximately 1000 officers within the Greater Manchester Police force, have been trained with respect to the origins, purpose and procedures relating to the SAI©. Specifically officers and senior investigators are trained how to make use of the SAI in appropriate daily operational context and identify when use of the SAI© will contribute to a criminal investigation. Training is delivered in both classroom and modular online formats that have been specially prepared within GMP. Use of the SAI© is also taught on all formal Investigative Interviewing Courses (approximately 20 courses per year) as a 'proactive investigative tool '. Furthermore, via the North West Regional Investigative Interview Champions branch, Senior Interview Advisors at regional forces including Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales have also received training about the SAI© as part of our cross-force dissemination of information about good practice. Similarly in Norway, where a Norwegian translation of the SAI© has been prepared (known as Selvadministrert Forklaring), information and training concerning the SAI© has been introduced for all police officers at the basic training level and also at more specialist levels. The SAI© currently forms part of the official curriculum for investigative interview training and, to date, approximately 1500 officers have been trained in the SAI©. In Norway, the SAI© is progressing to nation-wide approval and has been identified as "Good Practice" in the investigative interview training curriculum. Finally, in The Netherlands, the SAI© is available in a Dutch translation, known as the ZeG (Zelfrapportage voor Getuigen). In December 2012, the SAI was approved for national rollout across The Netherlands. Training in the SAI (ZeG) is now a mandatory component of some police training curricula, including 'Crime Scene Management' and 'Criminal Investigations in Comprehensive Cases'. To date, approximately 550 officers have been trained; this number is rapidly increasing. In the UK, A number of forces are currently evaluating the SAI© while others have established the SAI© as an official force form (e.g. Greater Manchester Police). Other international forces, including forces in Australia, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Germany and Singapore are pursuing integration of the SAI with current training and investigative practice. To date, the research team have been contacted directly by approximately 30 police forces in the UK and abroad - clearly, there is significant interest in the SAI©. However, the staggered nature of recruitment (due to the responsive mode) has meant that forces have contacted us at very different times and are, therefore, at very different stages of evaluation. For instance, GMP was an early entrant to force trials and has now officially adopted the tool as a force form. As a result, the majority of our Case Studies and evaluations to date have been drawn from GMP. The majority of the forces who have expressed an interest in the SAI© are currently working on putting procedures in place to embark on within-force evaluations. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Protecting Eyewitness Evidence via Self-Administered Interviews. New ways of Gathering Information from Witnesses |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Invited Seminar: Gabbert, F. (September, 2010). Protecting Eyewitness Evidence via Self-Administered Interviews. New ways of Gathering Information from Witnesses, Leicester University, U.K. After this talk I received requests from other academic researchers for more information so that they could tell their students about the research. I also received requests to use the SAI in further projects, thus my talk inspired further research in this area. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | The Self-Administered Interview: Capturing Witness Memory at the Scene |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited seminar: Hope, L. (May, 2012). The Self-Administered Interview: Capturing Witness Memory at the Scene. CEPOL European Police College, Stockholm, Sweden. Following this, three investigating officers from Stockholm Police were funded to travel to London to meet with PI Gabbert about implementing the SAI within their force. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Witness Memory and the Self Administered Interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited workshop/training: Witness Memory and the Self Administered Interview. Oslo Police Headquarters, Norway (25 & 26 August, 2010). Following the workshop about the SAI, a Norwegian translation of the SAI© was developed (known as Selvadministrert Forklaring), Furthermore, information and training concerning the SAI© has been introduced for all police officers at the basic training level and also at more specialist levels. The SAI© currently forms part of the official curriculum for investigative interview training and, to date, over 1500 officers have been trained in the SAI©. The SAI© has now received nation-wide approval and has been identified as "Good Practice" in the investigative interview training curriculum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Witness statements - how to get the most from them. Improving Post-Crash Response |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited seminar: Hope, L. (September, 2010). Witness statements - how to get the most from them. Improving Post-Crash Response. Roadpeace, London. Following this, the CI Hope and PI Gabbert were invited to write an article for the Charity's magazine 'Impact' to raise further awareness about the benefits of using the SAI to elicit information about road incidents. This subsequently lead to an invited contribution on policy document - ACPO Consultation into Road Death Investigation Manual, England, 2012. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |