Interview Advisor

The role of Interview Advisor is to advise on and co-ordinate investigative interviews for a range of investigations including; Major Crimes, Serious and Organised crime, Public Protection in conjunction with the lead investigator. They will assist in the development of interview strategies for interviews involving victims, witnesses and suspects.

In addition they will provide advice and support to assist the development of others in the field of investigative interviewing techniques.

• Provide advice to lead investigators, at all levels, on matters of interview law, guidance, policy, tactics and options to inform decision making relating to the investigation.
• Consult with other personnel involved in the investigation to develop effective and informed advice and guidance.
• Identify and respond to potential matters relating to the vulnerability of those being interviewed and brief lead investigators to ensure effective safeguarding steps are put in place.
• Provide investigative officers with the available tactical interviewing options to meet the strategic policy objectives of an investigation.
• Monitor on-going investigative situations and respond to developments, in order to provide updated and relevant strategic policy and tactical advice to lead investigators.
• Maintain a record of all tactical advice given to lead investigators to ensure that there is an effective audit trail of the decision making process.
• Contribute to the preparation of the case file by evaluating investigative material(s) relating specifically to investigative interviews in order to maximise evidential outcomes.
• Provide advice and support for other personnel in approaches to investigative interviewing to assist with their continuing professional development.
• Ensure maintenance and currency of tactics, options and approaches to ensure that any and all advice given to lead investigators is reliable and valid.

Prior education and experience:

• Successful completion of applicable entry training and Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) level 2 accreditation.
• Specialist knowledge and operational experience, including interviewing knowledge, in at least one area; Major Crime, Serious and Organised Crime (SOC), Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and/or Public protection interviewing and investigations.
• Extensive knowledge of relevant law, guidance, policy and process for interviews with witnesses and suspects, including Achieving Best Evidence (ABE).
• Detailed knowledge of the criminal justice system.

Skills:

• Able to set out logical arguments clearly, adapting language, form and message to meet the needs of different people/audiences.
• Able to identify the cause and effect and develop a course of action designed to target the root causes and mitigate risks.
• Able to review own performance objectively and take steps to maintain and enhance competence and professional standards appropriate to the role.
• Able to appropriately prioritise and plan own work.
• Able to proactively develop effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and other stakeholders.

• Maintain PIP level 2 accreditation by keeping a record of recent experience of conducting different types of serious and complex investigations which evidences the knowledge and skills that you have gained.
• Keep up-to-date with new and developing legislation (including current guidance on disclosure) and current national policing priorities e.g. vulnerability, that may impact on investigations and interview advice provided.
• Ensure that Case File Management follows current best practice.
• Keep up-to-date with new approaches to evidence based policing, including engagement with academics and others to support research if requested, and apply these to your work.
• Maintain knowledge of offenders’ methods of committing crime using technology.
• Understand the impact of the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) Learning the Lessons reports relating to investigation, e.g. importance of case file management.
• Familiarise yourself with other relevant IOPC reports, e.g. evidence from complaints, investigations and public perception and relevant HMICFRS (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services) reports e.g. PEEL Assessments.
• Read and apply the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) guidance on investigative practices, Relations with the Police.
• Regularly share best practice for investigations with colleagues e.g. contribute to relevant POLKA communities or deliver informal briefings.
• Maintain a working knowledge of how other government agencies, such as the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), can assist in the investigation of cases.
• Understand and develop knowledge of other roles within policing to further operational knowledge of one other’s roles.
• Coach and/or mentor less experienced colleagues e.g. PIP1 Investigators and deliver training sessions to support learning and development.
• Keep up-to-date with guidance on conducting the Performance Development Review (PDR) process and apply this to your work.
• Ensure knowledge and application of ABE is maintained and developed
• Maintain and update knowledge of law, practice and procedure relating to investigative interviewing.
• Maintain and update knowledge of police training relating to investigative interviewing.

PIP Accreditation

Assessed competence against relevant professional standards for this role is required to achieve PIP 2 accreditation. Maintenance of this accreditation requires the demonstration of continued competence against professional standards as well as evidence of CPD, in line with the College’s Model.

• Investigator – Serious and Complex (PIP2)
• Senior Investigator – Major Crime (PIP3)
• Investigative Manager (PIP2)
• Strategic Investigator (PIP4)
• Investigator – Volume and Priority Crime (PIP1)
• Senior Investigator – Serious and Organised Crime (PIP3)
• Head of Crime