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Capturing Interviews with portable police recording devices
eBook: Capturing Interviews On the Go with portable police recording devices

Fill out the form to get access to the eBook.

This guide explores the best practices for using mobile and portable police recording devices.

In today’s world, crime knows no boundaries. The need for swift and effective law enforcement has never been more crucial. Especially with the growing global focus on police effectiveness.

By enhancing operational speed, efficiency, and safety, these tools not only support legal proceedings but also promote justice and public trust, heralding a new era in policing.

From use cases and best practices to hardware and software recommendations.

In this eBook on portable police recording devices, you can learn:

How to create a mobile interview setup

Cost-effective strategies for modern policing

Techniques for capturing clear audio and video evidence on the go

The benefits of using portable recording devices for immediate evidence collection

Best practice for maintaining data security and integrity in field operations

Understanding the shifting landscape of police operations and the technology supporting this change is crucial for investigators and anyone involved in investigative interviewing.

About the author

For almost 40 years, Jeff Horn has been working in close collaboration with Police and other law enforcement establishments internationally. Jeff has developed a deep understanding of the challenges when creating the best evidence during investigative interviews.

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August 6, 2024
Police interview recording – how important is it?
The importance of police interview recording in investigative interviewing

In the landscape of modern justice systems, the practice of recording police interviews has emerged as a vital tool for enhancing transparency and integrity within law enforcement.

This blog explores the historical development and the pivotal role of digital interview recordings, underscoring their importance in safeguarding human rights and ensuring accuracy in criminal investigations. By delving into the benefits, the practical steps for adopting new technologies, and the challenges encountered, it advocates for widespread implementation of this practice, highlighting how it serves as a cornerstone of fairness and ethical conduct in policing.
Summary

Historical development and importance: Recording police interviews has evolved as a crucial practice for enhancing transparency, integrity, and accuracy in criminal investigations, highlighted by the introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) in England and Wales.

Benefits and implementation: Recording interviews safeguards against miscarriages of justice, preserves accurate accounts, aids in training and knowledge sharing, and enhances the ethical standards of the police force. Effective implementation involves high-quality equipment, detailed preparation, and reliable procedures.

Challenges and future outlook: Despite challenges like training and information management, the benefits of recording interviews outweigh the obstacles. The practice is supported by international norms, such as the Méndez Principles, and companies like Davidhorn are committed to promoting and facilitating this essential evolution in policing.

In today’s justice system, the integrity and transparency of law enforcement practices are under ever-increasing scrutiny. At the heart of this conversation lies the critical yet often overlooked tool of digital interview recording during interviews, a measure that serves not just as a procedural enhancement but as a foundational element of Investigative Interviewing, justice and ethical conduct. This blog aims to shed light on the historical evolution of Police Interview Recording, underscore its crucial role in safeguarding human rights, ensuring accuracy in criminal investigations and advocate for its broader implementation across law enforcement agencies. Through exploring the significant benefits, practical steps for effective adoption of new police equipment, and addressing potential obstacles, we underline the essential nature of recording in upholding the principles of fairness and integrity within the justice system.

Listen to our podcast on importance of interview recording

The role of recording in police interviewing techniques

In the ever-evolving landscape of policing and criminal investigations, the practice of recording interviews holds a pivotal role, bridging the gap between traditional police interview techniques and contemporary standards of justice and human rights. In the past, relying on notes or simply on the officers’ memory has been harmful not only to the interview, but also to its weight as evidence in court.

In the UK The Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure in 1981 set out the problem which it faced in respect of the lack of recording of interviews as follows:
“The frequency of challenges to the police record of interviews is said to make it essential to have some sort of independently validated record in order, in the eyes of some, to prevent the police from fabricating confessions or damaging statements, or, in the eyes of others, to prevent those who have in fact made admissions subsequently retracting them. It is the ‘verbals’ which give rise to most concern, that is the remarks which are attributed to the suspect in the police officer’s subsequent note of the interview but which the suspect is not prepared to endorse by making a written statement under caution. Indeed, it is argued by the Circuit Judges that the present methods of recording interviews are themselves the cause of a substantial number of acquittals of apparently guilty defendants. Many of our witnesses also point to the waste of court time caused by disputes about statement evidence.”

The turning point came with the introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in England and Wales (PACE), which made it compulsory to use recording systems during all suspect interviews. This legislative milestone marked the beginning of a global shift towards standardising the digital interview recording, a practice supported by both technological evolution and a growing recognition of its necessity for upholding justice. Nowadays it is recommended as a best practice to record all interviews including the ones with victims and witnesses.

Why record interviews? The cornerstone of justice and integrity

Recording interviews serves as a fundamental safeguard against miscarriages of justice, ensuring that the words spoken by individuals during one of their most vulnerable moments in life are preserved accurately. This practice compensates for the shortcomings of human memory, reduces cognitive load on interviewers, and significantly enhances the communicative and methodological quality of interviews. By providing an accurate account of the interaction, recordings can protect both the interviewee from potential mistreatment and the interviewer from unfounded accusations. The presence of a complete and authentic record aids in the investigation of any allegations of ill-treatment and cultivates the ethical standards and integrity of the police force.

The benefits of police interview recording extend beyond the immediate context of the interview room. Recorded interviews can be shared in real-time or after the fact, helping to share knowledge among the personnel, bringing in expert input and improving overall decision-making. Moreover, these recordings serve as invaluable tools for training, feedback, research and knowledge-development, ensuring the officers are equipped with the best practices in investigative interviewing.

Implementing video recording: a step-by-step guide for effective policing

Optimal results of the interview video recording can be achieved through detailed preparation, sound check procedures and the use of reliable equipment. High-quality recording systems that are easy to handle ensure consistency and integrity of the process. Recordings should be made without manipulation, with a focus on transparency and accountability. The use of digital signatures, reliable transferring and archiving procedures further safeguards preserving evidence and ensuring its court-ready evidence status.

Navigating the obstacles

Despite its clear advantages, the adoption of police interview recording is not without challenges. Training and motivating personnel, managing the transformation and storage of information, and ensuring compatibility across different systems are just a few of the hurdles to overcome. However, these obstacles are far outweighed by the benefits of increased accuracy, efficiency, reliability of testimonies, and the safeguarding of human rights. On top of that an experienced technological partner can help with implementation and training process to make the transition as smooth and bespoke as possible.

In conclusion, the practice of recording interviews in policing and investigations represents a critical evolution in the pursuit of justice and ethical standards. As technology advances and international norms shift towards greater transparency and accountability, interview recording stands as a testament to the commitment to uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals within the criminal justice system. The global standard presented in Méndez Principles recommend recording of all the interviews and hopefully as the understanding of its importance grows – more countries will ammend their legislation and practices accordingly.

For companies like Davidhorn, embracing and advocating for it is not just a recommendation; it’s a responsibility to the future of policing and the communities we serve.

Want to learn more about police interview recorders? Check out our product portfolio.

Written by: Marta Hopfer-Gilles

Fact checked by: Ivar A Fahsing (PhD)

(Chat GPT was used while creating this blog)
Related products

Fixed Recorder

Fixed HD recorder for high security interview rooms.

Portable Recorder

Lightweight, PACE-compliant interview recorder for any setting.

Capture

Mobile app recorder for capturing evidence on the go. 

Ark Interview Management

Receive, monitor, and keep evidence throughout its lifetime.
June 26, 2024
Webinar on Investigative Interviewing
Investigative Interviewing:
Why it matters and how to get there

Watch it now

For investigators and legal professionals, understanding the importance of the environment and the technology used is crucial.

We have spoken to Dr Andy Griffiths, a former UK Senior Investigating Officer and Interview expert on the topic of Investigative Interviewing.

In this webinar you will hear how his background within law enforcement brought him to dive deep into this field. He goes into the truth about confession-oriented investigative interviewing, mindset and the effect it has on building trust in communities.
In this Webinar on Ivestigative Interviewing you can learn:

What is the foundation of conducting more effective interviews

How to handle Investigative Interviews in a better way

The role of leadership and training

Why recording interviews help build better evidence
Want to learn more about Investigative Interviewing? Listen to our podcast Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.
About Dr Andy Griffiths

Andy Griffiths has over 35 years experience in law enforcement, organisational change, policy implementation and training design and delivery. He has a Ph.D. in applied psychology, post graduate qualifications in policing and research methods and is a qualified trainer.

Andy Griffiths completed 30 years police service as a career detective in a large UK force specialising in interviewing and investigation, progressing to become Head of Force Major Crime, then intelligence and organised crime departments, and serving over 10 years on the National Advisory Body to all police forces in relation to investigative interviewing.

During Andy Griffith’s police service he was a pioneer in the development of specialised interview training programs and was awarded a PhD for research on real life suspect and witness interviews. He has lectured, trained and consulted in countries across the world and contributed to miscarriage of justice investigations in the USA, New Zealand and the UK.

Andy Griffiths has numerous publications and media appearances in the field of investigation and investigative interviewing.
June 20, 2024