Police officers’ perceptions of a training course designed to enhance open-ended questions with adult witnesses

Abstract

This study evaluated police officers’ perceptions of a new training program aimed at improving interviewing skills for adult interviewees. Drawing from successful strategies used in interviewing child complainants of abuse, the program focused on enhancing the use of open-ended questions. The investigation aimed to identify effective aspects, limitations, the practicality of open-ended questions in real-world scenarios, and avenues for enhancing post-training interviewer performance. Through diverse qualitative data collection methods including email feedback, discussion boards, questionnaires, and follow-up interviews, officers’ feedback was thematically analysed. Four key themes emerged: the utility of open-ended questions, improved skills due to course content, variability in narrative detail needs across contexts, and opportunities for enhancing learning outcomes. These findings have implications for both research and practical applications, highlighting the effectiveness of the training program and suggesting areas for further improvement in enhancing police officers’ interviewing skills with adults.