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Realising The Benefits of

a Digital Investigative Interviewing Workflow

A White Paper by

Interview Management Solutions

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Contents Page

Abstract 3

Background 3

The Challenge 4

The Solution - The TILES System® of Interview Management 5

Pre-interview Feedback & Post-interview Evaluation 6

Mapping and Timeline Data 7

Management Dashboard 8

Case Study 1 - Paedophile Ring 9

Case Study 2 - ABE Interviews 10

Adopting the TILES System 11

Technical Detail 12

Summary 12

About Us 12

Table of Contents

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Abstract

Investigative interviewing is a core task undertaken by police officers and other

professionals engaged in an investigative capacity including intelligence officers,

auditors, compliance investigators and financial crime investigators. Despite the

complex investigative landscape within which your agency may be operating, it is

likely that your investigations managers and interviewing teams are continuing to

plan, conduct and evaluate investigative interviews using paper-based interview

plans and handwritten notes.

This white paper looks at how cutting-edge technology can be used to cast a digital

footprint across your agency’s investigative interviewing workflow, enhancing your

agency’s interview outcomes through transparency, accountability and efficiency.

Background

Regardless of where your investigative remit sits, the complex nature of your inves-

tigations will often include information from victims and witnesses and other evi-

dence including documentary records, physical evidence and digital data. Investi-

gations can be further complicated, with offences committed by individuals,

groups or networks, operating online or across international borders.

The Investigative Interview is often a one-chance opportunity for investigators to

secure accurate and reliable information from an interviewee. Notwithstanding

the complex nature of investigations today, interviewers are required to strategi-

cally manage forensic conversation and make tactical use of evidence and infor-

mation to maximize opportunities to secure evidential outcomes at interviews.

Much is at stake and the importance of Investigative Interviewing to the criminal

justice system or compliance arena within which you operate cannot be underesti-

mated.

‘Poorly conducted interviews run a serious risk of eliciting

unreliable information, decreasing the amount of infor-

mation elicited, destroying the credibility of the interviewee,

and contaminating the investigative process.’ (Vrij et al, 2014) 3

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The Challenge

Despite the technology available to deliver wider investigation case management effi-

ciencies, your investigation managers and interview teams continue to rely upon paper-

based interview planning methods in managing your agency’s forensic interviewing

workflow. These paper-based methods are inflexible and offer limited synergy between

interviewing pairs and investigation managers, all of whom are often left stretched to

their cognitive capacity in attempting to conduct and manage forensic interviews. As a

result, lines of enquiry can be missed, evidence can be lost and your agency’s search for

the truth can be undermined.

After years of research, academics and practitioners are in agreement that planning and

preparation are essential if interviews with victims, witnesses, and suspects are to be

productive. In the UK’s ‘Achieving Best Evidence’ (ABE) context, Home Office guidance

provides that, ‘Setting clear objectives is important because they give direction to the

interview and contribute to its structure’ (Ministry of Justice, 2011). The significance of

appropriate planning is of equal importance in the realm of suspect interviewing, where

research showed that interviewers who planned and used evidence strategically in sus-

pect interviews were up to 30% more likely to be able to detect deceit and inconsisten-

cies in the suspect’s account (Hartwig et al, 2006).

Despite the obvious benefits, recent commentary tends to indicate that a lack of plan-

ning and preparation continues to feature and impact investigative interviewing out-

comes. In the UK for example, a recent review undertaken by Her Majesty’s Inspec-

torate of Constabulary (HMIC) of 140 specialist interviews within the child protection

context in six police forces in England and Wales identified a number of shortfalls sug-

gesting, ‘Immediate improvements could be achieved through better planning at the

outset, supplemented by improved supervision of interviewers’ (HMCPSI/HMIC 2014).

Digitalisation within policing has already been used to raise professional standards,

drive savings, and improve business and operational processes across areas such as cus-

tody, case management and intelligence. In this climate, this white paper invites you to

reflect on the inefficiencies that may permeate the investigative interviewing processes

in your operational environment and asks you to consider whether or not technology, in

the form of the TILES™ System of Interview Management, may represent a cutting-edge

solution which could add transparency, accountability and efficiency to your agency’s

investigative interviewing workflow.

‘Better planning would improve the man-ner of questioning and summarising….

…There is little formal review or feedback by police supervisors…’

(HMCPSI/HMIC 2014)

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The Solution

The TILES System® of Interview Management is an investigative interviewing plan-

ning and management software tool, which places a digital footprint across an agen-

cy’s investigative interviewing processes, from planning through to evaluation.

Secure and forensically robust, the patent-pending TILES System® enables interview-

ing teams to plan, conduct and evaluate interviews in any investigative context and

do so in a way that places feedback and evaluation at the heart of the process. As a

result, interviewers and interview managers can work in collaboration faster, to com-

plete better interview plans enabling them to conduct objective-based interviews

strategically, resulting in better evidential outcomes.

The TILES System® features a unique two-tiered planning methodology encouraging

interviewers to clearly set out strategic objectives and tactical considerations within

a consistent framework of interview planning.

At the heart of the system is the topic TILE. Each TILE can be customized to contain

case specific prompts and hints tailored to your agency’s investigative landscape.

Each TILE can be named and populated with strategic objectives, tactical notes and

hyperlinked documentary records such as scene photos and highlighted witness

statements.

Occurrence Person Place Vehicle Property Evidential Entity

Use Default

Topic TILES...

Or Customize

your own...

Transaction Aircraft Cyber

Agile & Responsive

Drag, drop, expand, minimize. Each topic TILE can be expanded,

closed, or re-positioned at the touch of a finger or ‘click’ of a

mouse; all in response to the ever-changing flow of forensic

conversation...

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Investigative Detail, When You Need It Most...

The availability of hyperlinked documents and mapping

and timeline data combine to deliver a strategic ad-

vantage for the interviewing team who are now able to

better assimilate new information in real-time with an

enhanced awareness of the wider investigative landscape.

Synergy Across The Interviewing Workflow

The TILES System® opens up a world of synergy between inter-

viewing teams who are now able to collaborate securely before,

during and after the interview.

The synergy and efficiency delivered by the TILES system extends

beyond the interviewing team to throw a digital footprint across

the whole investigative interviewing process at the agency level...

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Pre-interview Review and Feedback

Supervisory review can be executed pre-interview

at a glance to ensure the overarching interview

strategy and tactical plan are both fit for purpose.

Electronic feedback can be delivered directly into

the interview plan ensuring the interview team get

the right investigative advice, at the right time, in

the right place.

Post-Interview Evaluation

Post-interview, supervisory evaluation can be undertak-

en by reviewing the updated interview plan. Notes re-

lating to information or responses provided by the in-

terviewee during the interview, appear in blue font and

so are immediately discernible against the original in-

terview plan.

The evaluation screen is immediately exportable as a

digitally-signed briefing document and can be used as a

basis for supervisory feedback.

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Management Dashboard

The engine room of your agency’s oversight of its investigative

interviewing workflow is the Management Dashboard. Through

this portal your Investigations Manager can review interview

plans and leave feedback directly into TILES interview plans.

Mid-interview, an interview advisor can watch a ‘live’ feed of

a developing interview plan in real-time. Post-interview, an evalua-

tion can be made and electronic feedback can be provided in the sys-

tem back to the interviewing team. The TILES System® of Interview

Management delivers a new level of governance across your agency’s

interviewing processes bringing transparency, accountability and effi-

ciency to your investigative interviewing activities.

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Case Study 1- Paedophile Ring

Intelligence is received from Interpol reporting that a suspected

paedophile ring has been identified as being in operation across

the UK. A total of 12 suspects, located across seven counties

throughout England and Wales have been identified as targets

for a high priority arrest and search operation. Initial enquiries

quickly expand to include the analysis of large volumes of data

and intelligence including financial records, mobile phone data

and internet activity.

With a high risk of continued Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) con-

tact offences occurring, an effective response time is critical. A

lead Interview Advisor is appointed to co-ordinate and manage a

total of 6 Interview teams (suspect) and planning and pre-

interview briefings occur simultaneously whilst the arrest and

search operation is executed.

During a ‘live’ webinar briefing, the Interview Advisor is able to

quickly deliver the interview strategy for the operation using the

TILES System® framework. Once completed by the interviewing

teams, TILES system interview plans can be checked remotely

and feedback provided electronically into each plan if required.

Following a series of initial interviews, the Interview Advisor is

able to remotely access updated TILES System® interview plans

and review the same in preparation for holding a 2nd ‘live’ webi-

nar briefing to coordinate tactical changes to the overarching

interview strategy.

With the PACE clock ticking away, during the 2nd series of sus-

pect interviews the Interview Advisor is able to access a live-

feed of developing interview plans within the TILES system,

maintaining operational control of the coordinated interviews

in real-time. Post-interview, each TILES system interview eval-

uation report is instantly available to the Interview Advisor and

the wider investigation team as a briefing document.

Following the operation, the Interview Advisor is able to leave

electronic Evaluation feedback within each interview plan for

the benefit of each interviewing team. As a follow up, the

agency’s forensic interviewing response can be reviewed to

ensure operational effectiveness is maintained.

Transparency. Accountability. Efficiency.

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Case Study 2 - The ABE Interview

A referral is received from Social Services concerning disclosures

made by two 14 year old females concerning ongoing Child Sexual

Exploitation (CSE) contact offences.

Once a joint strategy meeting has been held, Police and social ser-

vices are able to use the TILES System® to plan collaboratively for

each ABE interview, which will be undertaken concurrently. Once

draft plans are complete, the Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT)

Manager is able to review and sign-off each interview plan electroni-

cally.

As each interview begins, the second interviewers are able to ob-

serve a live feed from the monitoring facility and populate new in-

formation straight into their respective interview plans in real-time.

Transparency. Accountability. Efficiency.

As each interview progresses, the secondary interviewers are able

to send key information directly to the interview timeline in real-

time.

If required, the lead interviewer is able to pick up a tablet device,

double-tap a topic TILE, and see a bullet-point summary of what’s

just been discussed.

The CAIT Manager is able to maintain remote access to each TILES

System® interview plan, maintaining operational control of the co-

ordinated interviews in real-time. Immediately upon conclusion,

the interview teams are able to export digitally-signed Interview

Reports for use by the CAIT Manager and Safeguarding strategy

meetings.

Once immediate safeguarding and evidential actions have been pri-

oritised, the CAIT Manager is able to review and leave electronic

evaluation feedback within each interview plan for the benefit of

the joint interview teams. As a follow up, the agency’s ABE inter-

viewing response can be reviewed for critical debriefing and case

review purposes.

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Adopting The TILES System

At Interview Management Solutions (IMS), data security and software

reliability have underpinned every stage of the TILES system’s develop-

ment. Whether you require the TILES software as a cloud-based Soft-

ware as a Service (SaaS) or as an on-premise solution behind your own

firewalls, your exacting security and compliance standards will be de-

livered.

UK Government G-Cloud Supplier

IMS are proud to have secured Supplier status with the UK Govern-

ment’s Digital Marketplace. Through this portal, UK law enforce-

ment and other public sector clients can engage IMS to secure our

enterprise solution featuring:

Secure on-premise, or Microsoft Azure cloud hosting delivering

99.99% uptime

Helpdesk support

Remote access delivering collaborative and supervisory

capabilities

Fully customizable to include additional agendas/data fields

such as risk assessment and policy log decision-making

Full audit trail of software actions recorded ensuring forensic

robustness

What is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)?

SaaS solutions enable agencies to outsource their software require-

ments.

Applications are web-based, no installation necessary

Shortened procurement pathway

No software to manage - all upgrades undertaken by IMS

Limited capital costs

Flexible and scalable to meet business requirements

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Technical Detail

Code Libraries: ASP.NET MVC Web API

JavaScript

RAD.JS

Browsers Supported: Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10+

Firefox, Chrome, Safari

Supported devices: PC, Mac, Tablets (Android, iOS)

Data Centre Tier: IA-942 Tier 3

Security: Norton Symantec 256-bit (Bank Grade) SSL

data encryption

Data Protection: EU directive 95/46EC compliant

About Us

Founded in 2013, IMS was formed through a recognition that technology could be leveraged to create an operational investigative interviewing tool

which could deliver efficiencies across all interviewing processes, in any investigative context. If you would like to find out more about the TILES System®

of Interview Management, and explore the potential value the software could deliver in your training or operational investigative interviewing environ-

ment, then Contact Us now.

interviewmanagementsolutions.com

Summary

The TILES System®of Interview Management brings Investigative Interviewing firmly into the 21st century. The TILES System® technology aligns perfectly

with the PEACE model framework and represents a smarter way of managing the investigative interviewing workflow at the agency level. TILES System®

software has been designed within the Microsoft ASP.NET environment to ensure maximum integration and alignment with a wide range of 3rd party

technologies. A TILES System® solution customised to your agency’s exacting governance and compliance requirements will be a major step forward in

place of the traditional paper-based interview planning methodology.