Police Chief magazine article on the PEACE Method

Written By: Reid
Jan 01, 2018

The November 2017 issue of Police Chief magazine features an article entitled, Bringing PEACE to the United States. The article is well written and provides the reader with a very clear explanation of the PEACE model - which is essentially an investigative interviewing process developed and used in the United Kingdom. Here is an abbreviated description of the PEACE interview process:

Planning and Preparation: Prepare thoroughly for the interview; understand the purpose of the interview; develop as much information as possible about the crime and the subject to be interviewed, and consider the case facts relative to the subjects to be interviewed. (See Reid Investigator Tip: Factual Analysis)

Engage and Explain: Establish rapport with the subject; treat the subject with dignity and respect; and explain to the subject the format and procedures that you are going to follow.

Account: Allow the subject to tell their story or version of events; expand and clarify the initial account; and, when appropriate, use evidence to challenge the account. (see Reid Investigator Tips: Using Open-ended Questions During the Investigative Interview (Part 1 and Part 2 and Cognitive Interviewing)

Closure: Confirm with the subject the information that was developed during the interview and explain to the subject what will happen next.

Evaluation: Determine if the goals and objectives of the interview have been accomplished and review the investigation in light of the information developed during the interview.

As an addendum, in the UK a subject�s silence can be used against them and the suspect is advised of this. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 provides statutory rules under which adverse inferences may be drawn from silence.

Adverse inferences may be drawn in certain circumstances where before or on being charged, the accused:

fails to mention any fact which he later relies upon and which in the circumstances at the time the accused could reasonably be expected to mention;

fails to give evidence at trial or answer any question;

fails to account on arrest for objects, substances or marks on his person, clothing or footwear, in his possession, or in the place where he is arrested; or

fails to account on arrest for is presence at a place

(For additional information on interviewing techniques, see Criminal Interrogation and Confessions (5th ed, 2013) - in particular these Chapters: Preparation and Starting the Interview; Formulating Interview Questions; Behavior Symptom Analysis; Precautions when Evaluating Behavior Symptoms of Truthful and Untruthful Subjects; The Behavior Analysis Interview; and,The Use of Specialized Questioning Techniques)

Also, here is an article detailing the Reid Behavior Analysis Interview that was published in the International Journal of Police Science & Management.