Managing Interrogative Pressure in Police Interviews
| Author | Jim Baxter |
| Date | 01 November 2004 |
| DOI | 10.1350/pojo.77.4.303.58967 |
| Published date | 01 November 2004 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
DR JIM BAXTER
Department of Psychology, University of Strathclyde
MANAGING INTERROGATIVE
PRESSURE IN POLICE
INTERVIEWS
Use of various ‘pressure tactics’ in police interviews has
sometimes been thought necessary, especially when officers
have reason to believe that a witness or suspect is hostile or
deceitful. However, defence counsel are increasingly likely to
challenge evidence on the grounds that transcripts and video-
tapes of interviews suggest that it has been obtained by
objectionable, pressurising methods. This article reviews
recent work showing how certain types of interviewer style
may vary interrogative pressure (IP). It is argued that the
Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scales (GSS) provide a simple but
effective test of IP. Use of the GSS in police interviewer
training can provide officers with a means to monitor and
control the levels of IP which they apply in interviews
and reduce the likelihood that they will inadvertently apply
inappropriate IP.
With the increasing use of video technology to record police
interviews with witnesses and suspects, and the growing aware-
ness in recent years of the dangers of leading witnesses during
questioning, defence counsel have increasing recourse to the
argument that the case against their client results from distorted
evidence introduced during questioning by ‘manipulative’ police
officers. As a result forensic and other psychologists find them-
selves called upon with increasing frequency by defence sol-
icitors to analyse videotapes and transcripts of interviews for
evidence that a witness has been unduly pressurised.
In the interests of both sides of justice therefore police
officers and all others who must interview witnesses must fully
understand the nature of the pressures which can influence
suspects and witnesses so that they can ensure that such extra-
neous influences are controlled and, where necessary, kept to an
absolute minimum in their interview work.
Interrogative Suggestibility (IS)
Much work on the problems of influencing witnesses has con-
centrated on IS. This is defined as: ‘The extent to which, within
a closed social interaction, people come to accept messages
The Police Journal, Volume 77 (2004) 303
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