Investigative Interviewing Masterclass
Develop the critical skills to conduct interviews
Investigative interviewing is a very useful tool in the regulator’s toolbox and can gather large amounts of admissible evidence in a short space of time. However, it is often not used due to the fear of “getting it wrong” or misapplied.
This masterclass will demystify the investigative interviewing process, introduce the science backed PEACE model of interviewing, and provide participants with practical tools that can be applied in their specific workplace. The masterclass will include opportunities for participants to practise the concepts discussed and powerful questioning techniques designed to elicit the flow of information from both witnesses and suspects.
What will you takeaway?
How the PEACE model of interviewing can be applied to interviewing both witnesses and suspects
Understanding of how human memory works and how easy it can be influenced by poorly structured questions
How to use the “details funnel” to maximise quality information from your interviews
The big differences between interrogation and interviewing
How to design strategies to deal with untruthful answers
Principal Consultant, JS Regulatory Services
Jason is a highly experienced and motivated specialist in compliance, regulation, and investigation with over two decades of experience in regulatory roles across state and local governments
He is a specialist in regulation and compliance from the strategic level right down to the “hands on” perspective. During his time with the NSW Environment Protection Authority, Jason undertook and managed numerous complex and high profile investigations into waste crime and environmental incidents. Jason is also a fierce advocate for skills development for regulatory officers to enable them to confidently undertake quality regulatory work.
Jason Scarborough
Jason is a highly experienced and motivated specialist in compliance, regulation, and investigation with over two decades of experience in regulatory roles across state and local governments
He is a specialist in regulation and compliance from the strategic level right down to the “hands on” perspective. During his time with the NSW Environment Protection Authority, Jason undertook and managed numerous complex and high profile investigations into waste crime and environmental incidents. Jason is also a fierce advocate for skills development for regulatory officers to enable them to confidently undertake quality regulatory work.”
Audience
Anyone from a Federal, State or Local Government regulatory agency who is required to conduct interviews with complainants, witnesses or people suspected of committing serious regulatory offences in a regulatory role including:
- Investigations
- Rangers
- Compliance
- Inforcement
- Regulatory practice & operations
- Inspections
- Prosecutions
- Legal
- Local laws officers
- Audit
Agenda
All times are shown AEST
Module 1 – Setting the foundation
Acknowledgement of Country & Welcome remarks
Workshop overview, expectations & objective
Where does your knowledge come from?
What is investigative interviewing?
- Examine the principles of investigative interviewing
Understanding human memory
Activities
- Short term memory
- Attention to the situation
- Impact of language
Morning break
What is the PEACE Model?
- Prepare (including the interview plan)
- Engage & Explain
- Account
- Clarify / Challenge
- Close
- Evaluate
Question types & techniques
- TEDS (Tell, Explain, Describe, Show) questions
- 5WH questions
- Appropriate closed questions
- The “details” funnel
- Never appropriate questions
Activity
- Open vs closed questions
Close of Module 1
Module 2 – Interviewing witnesses & suspects
Opening remarks
Reflection on Module 1 & Activity
Taking notes
Taking notes
- Who should take notes?
- Note taking methods
Activity
- What happened this morning / what’s your hobby?
Interviewing a witness
- Are they a witness, or a suspect?
- Purpose of the witness interview
- Support people for witnesses
- Applying PEACE with witnesses
Morning break
Understanding interrogation vs interviewing
- What’s the difference?
- False confessions
- Is it possible to spot a lie
Activity
- Two truths and a lie
Interviewing the suspect
- Purpose of the suspect interview
- Support people
- Room setup
Interviewing the suspect
- Link to procedural fairness
- Strategies for various answer types
- Developing the investigator’s agenda
- Exhibits
Close of Module 2
Module 3 – Putting it into practice
Opening remarks
Reflection on Module 2
Preparation of an interview plan
- Instructions on activity
- Allocation of scenarios
Activity
- Prepare an interview plan
Real interview critique
- Background to interview
- Observe first 30 minutes of an interview with a well-known celebrity
Activities
- Making your own notes
- Identifying good/bad technique
- Identifying questions you would have asked
Morning break
Group discussion – thoughts on observed interview
- Interviewers used
- Room setup
- Question types used
- Interviewer performance
- Specific points of good / bad technique
- Questions missed / misphrased
Debrief
- Revisit key learnings
- Q&A/reflection
- Wrap up
Close of Module 3 & End of Masterclass
All times are shown AEST
Pricing
Early bird savings before 19 July
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $300
Early bird savings before 16 August
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $200
Early bird savings before 6 September
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $100
Standard prices after early bird
+GST
This course and others I have participated in have always been well facilitated by knowledgeable people in their field, along with good and appropriate content/subject matter. The whole learning experience was informative, insightful and very worthwhile”
Intake and Resolution Officer
Victorian Disability Workers Commission, February 2024
This is an excellent course for people in an investigating role that would like to learn the essentials to preparing and interviewing.”
Regulatory Adviser - Investigator
AHPRA (Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency), March 2023
Being newly appointed into a role where interviewing is key to establishing scheme compliance, I personally found this program to be great at giving me both technique and a methodical approach to successfully plan and execute these”
Field Officer
Leave Plus, February 2024
Highly recommend the Investigative Interviewing Masterclass for anyone that has interviewing as part of their functionality as a must do, and great as a refresher course for those with more experience also.”
Senior Investigator
Essential Services Commission Victoria, December 2022
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