Evidence-based policing in Australia: an examination of the appropriateness and transparency of lineup identification and investigative interviewing practices
| Author | Lisanne Adam,Hayley J. Cullen,Celine van Golde |
| Published date | 01 March 2021 |
| Date | 01 March 2021 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/14613557211004618 |
| Subject Matter | Original Research Articles |
Original Research Article
Evidence-based policing in Australia: an
examination of the appropriateness and
transparency of lineup identification and
investigative interviewing practices
Hayley J. Cullen
School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Australia
Lisanne Adam
Graduate School of Business and Law, RMIT University, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia
Celine van Golde
School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia
Abstract
Psychological research has been pivotal in influencing the way police forces globally approach and undertake criminal
investigations. Increasing psychological research in recent years has led to the development of best-practice guidelines for
conducting police investigations, across a number of key areas of criminal investigation. For example, procedures for
creating and conducting lineups as r ecommended by the American Psychology -Law Society, and the UK-developed
PEACE model for investigative interviewing, have both been of influence in Australia. However, the extent to which
these evidence-based recommendations have been incorporated into policing practice within Australia is unclear. In this
article, we conducted an exploratory review of publicly available policing documents within Australian states and
territories, to determine the extent to which best practice lineup identification and investigative interviewing
procedures have been adop ted into police practic e. The review revealed th at for lineup identific ation procedures,
many of the basic recommendations for conducting lineups were not incorporated into publicly available policing
manuals. For investigative interviewing, it appeared on the surface that elements of the PEACE model were
implemented within most Australian jurisdictions, albeit this was often not explicitly stated within policing documents.
A key issue identified was a lack of (understandable) public transparency of policing procedure, as a number of Australian
jurisdictions failed to have publicly available policing manuals or handbooks against which to evaluate their procedures.
Therefore, we argue that there is a need for better collaboration between researchers and law enforcement in order to
achieve evidence-based, transparent policing within Australia.
Keywords
Policing, evidence-based policing, eyewitness identification, investigative interviewing, Australia
Submitted 23 Nov 2020, Revise received 23 Nov 2020, accepted 29 Jan 2021
Introduction
Although forensic psychology isconsidered a newer field of
psychology, itsimpact on legal procedures around the world
has comparably been wide and ongoing. From Munster-
berg’s 1908 On the Witness Stand to the introduction of the
misinformation effect paradigm by Loftus et al. in 1978,
academics have tried and succeeded in investigating issues
within the legal system and have provided insights and
advice on how to overcome these issues. The importance
Corresponding author:
Hayley J. Cullen, Brennan MacCallum Building (A18), University of Sydney,
NSW, 2006 New South Wales, Australia.
Email: hcul1365@uni.sydney.edu.au
International Journalof
Police Science & Management
2021, Vol. 23(1) 85–98
ªThe Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/14613557211004618
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