Witness interview strategy for critical incidents (WISCI)
The Journal of Forensic Practice
ISSN: 2050-8794
Article publication date: 14 June 2018
Issue publication date: 7 November 2018
Abstract
Purpose
High-profile critical incidents involving multiple witnesses, particularly terrorist attacks, have increased over the years. The purpose of this paper is to describe the components of a witness interview strategy for this type of investigation. Central to these cases is a need for a triage system which deals with a large number of witness/victim interviews that must be conducted fast time.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper was developed based on the experience of the authors who provide practical advice and support to these types of investigations and a dialogue with police interview advisers involved in developing this type of strategy.
Findings
A witness interview strategy for critical incidents involving multiple witnesses should be set within a framework that covers initial contact with the witnesses, the interview process and post-interview processes.
Practical implications
It is important that a witness interview strategy is developed for any critical incident involving multiple witnesses to ensure that what could otherwise be a chaotic process is effectively managed.
Originality/value
No other papers have been published that consider the development of witness interview-strategies for multiple-witnesses in critical incidents.
Keywords
Citation
Smith, K. and Milne, B. (2018), "Witness interview strategy for critical incidents (WISCI)", The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 268-278. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-03-2018-0007
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited