Police practice and false confessions: A search for the implementation of investigative interviewing in Australia

Abstract

Since the 1960s, the United States developed ‘Reid interrogation technique’, and its variations have been widely used around the world. Due to its interrogative and confession-driven nature – and thus the increased risk of false confessions – many countries (including Australia) have since moved away from this model towards the UK-developed PEACE-approach. This article will utilise case studies and forensic psychological research to explain how coercive techniques used during police interviews increase the risk of false confessions. It will then describe the implementation of investigative interviewing in Australia by presenting an analysis of those state and territory police manuals which are publicly available.