Bangkok (Thailand), 29 April 2022 - The interviewing of witnesses and suspects play a crucial role in investigating complex crimes with high evidentiary thresholds such as corruption and financial crimes. The application of improper interview techniques – traditionally, passed from older to more junior officers in the course of routine police work – can lead to false confessions and ineffective investigations. Particularly in the case of financial crime, officers must be able to question suspects and witnesses about voluminous documents in order to progress investigations. In recent decades, in-depth studies have led to the development of best practices, such as the PEACE model of interviewing, standing for Prepare, Engage, Account, Closure, and Evaluation.
To promote best practices relating to corruption crime interviewing, UNODC and the Sanya Dharmasakti Anti-Corruption Institute of the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand (NACC) hosted a workshop for two batches of participants, over 25-26 and 28-29 April 2022. The workshop looked at cutting-edge research into what works, practical questioning techniques. As part of the workshop, participants applied techniques to a hypothetical case of financial crime, and analyzed segments of Detective Smyth’s famous interview of Russell Williams.
The workshop is the latest anti-corruption activity building on a letter of agreement in November 2021 between UNODC and the Sanya Dharmasakti Anti-Corruption Institute, pledging to co-organize a series of capacity development and awareness-raising initiatives. Recent UNODC anti-corruption activities in Thailand have included training on forensic accounting, a workshop on best practices for executive leaders of Thai public authorities, and a regional webinar on ways to strengthen law enforcement integrity.
This workshop was jointly organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Sanya Dharmasakti Anti-Corruption Institute of the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand. The event is part of programming funded by the Ministry of Justice of Government of the Republic of Korea.
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