Introducing the Investigative Interviewing Checklist: A New Tool to Support Effective and Ethical Investigations

Peer-reviewed by leading experts in the field of investigative interviewing, the checklist aims to uphold both effectiveness and ethical standards in investigations, making it an essential resource for professionals and students alike.

“Having a checklist like this is a central pillar in ensuring that effective interviewing practice is maintained and implemented across the globe. A handy reminder for all; those new to this way of working and those seasoned with using appropriate practice— everyone needs a clear user-friendly guide” 

— Professor Becky Milne, University of Portsmouth, UK, and Director of the Centre of Forensic Interviewing.

View and download the checklist here

Interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects is a core task of law enforcement. Consequently, how the police conduct their interviews will have a profound impact on the outcome, fairness, efficiency, and reliability of any subsequent criminal proceedings, and ultimately, how citizens perceive the fairness of the criminal justice system. 

Research based Investigative Interviewing offers numerous benefits for law enforcement and society, promoting effective investigations and upholding human rights. It serves to prevent errors of justice, fosters open-mindedness, enhances communication, the flow of information and supports memory retrieval.

A collaborative effort

Over the past 15 years, The NCHR in close cooperation with international partners and Norwegian Police has played a pivotal role in the dissemination and implementation of the research based methodology, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 16 to promote "peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels".

The Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering, commonly known as the “Méndez principles”, published in May 2021 marked a significant milestone in this work. They offer an authoritative, international framework, providing guidance on obtaining accurate and reliable information in full respect of the human rights and dignity of all. The Méndez principles merge fundamental Human Rights and science, including legal and procedural safeguards in the first hours of police custody.

The principles aim to transform and enhance the way in which police, military and intelligence agencies conduct their interviews aiming to improve trust in the State. In addition to scientifically grounded knowledge and fundamental Human Rights, the Méndez principles are based on extensive experience and feedback from academia and practitioners worldwide, including a steering committee and advisory board consisting of more than hundred international experts.

Global impact on policing practices

This initiative was followed by the drafting of the UN Manual on Investigative Interviewing for Criminal Investigation, a “one UN” initiative, and the first UN manual guiding police interviews endorsed by all UN organisations with mandates related to policing. The development was led by a doctrine development group consisting of more than 30 state representatives and UN experts, where NCHR acted as the secretariat. The manual was published in February 2024, highlighted as having potential for a profound global impact on policing practices.

With this foundation in place, the idea of a short, concise “Checklist on Investigative Interviewing” was formed.

“I was very cautious going into this. Condensing decades worth of such an extensive body of research and practice, transformed into a “simple checklist” is not something to be taken lightly. Initially, it was more of an experiment to see if we could summarise the crucial principles and practical steps of a police interview — which some of the most influential researchers and practitioners in the field could agree on — into this 'one-pager'”, says NCHR senior adviser, Susanne H. Flølo.

International Cooperation

This iterative process involved continuous refinement to distill the essence into a one-page checklist.

The first brainstorm resulted in bullet points covering six pages, gradually refined into a more concise flow chart, undergoing numerous internal reviews, before being shared with an international network of renowned researchers and practitioners.[1]

“While the checklist should make sense also without in-depth knowledge of investigative interviewing, it is important to note that we cannot cover all the dynamics and complexities of a police interview in such a limited format. It is designed primarily for those already familiar with the methodology. It aims to present critical elements of a sound and effective interview in a visually clear manner to ensure that critical steps and considerations are remembered and followed. Much like the checklist that pilots use before take-off and landing”, Flølo ads.

Training and further in-depth study are essential, as highlighted by the references to further resources at the bottom of the checklist.

Police Superintendent Asbjørn Rachlew (PhD), guest researcher at the NCHR and Norway's elected member to Council of Europe Committee for the prevention of torture (CPT) is enthusiastic:

“The process leading up to the checklist on Investigative Interviewing aligns with the theory in “The Checklist Manifesto,” published by Atul Gawande in 2011, emphasising the importance of clear, simple messages, communicated in a chronological and logical order, drafted in close cooperation with practitioners. This tool can be used in various contexts, including the crucial planning and preparation phase of interviews in the field,  but also as a tool for education, including pre-training preparation and exercise stimuli. It can certainly also come in handy for senior personnel, prosecutors, lawyers and judges, supervising , and evaluating police interviews. Like all professional checklists, it does, of course, require a level of pre-knowledge to serve as a practical guide for practitioners, supervisors, and legal professionals.”