Police interviews with suspected paedophiles: A discourse analysis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Police interviews with suspected paedophiles: A discourse analysis

AU - Benneworth, Kelly

PY - 2009/9

Y1 - 2009/9

N2 - A review of the literature suggests that the principles of investigative interviewing in the UK do not translate well to the interviewing of suspects ( Clarke and Milne, 2001). In fact, studies have revealed that rather than encourage uninterrupted ordinary narratives from suspects, police officers seek institutionally preferred versions of events ( Auburn et al., 1995) and adopt legal discourse which is excessively precise ( Gibbons, 2003) and, in interviews with suspected paedophiles, sexually explicit (Benneworth, 2006). This article will explore how an interviewing officer manages this conflict in an interaction with a suspected paedophile. An investigative interview with a 54-year-old male suspected of sexually assaulting a female between the ages of 8 to 12 years was transcribed and examined using a discourse analytic framework. The analysis identifies interactional difficulties faced by the interviewer and considers the implications for the progression of the investigative interview. The findings suggest how interviewers might manage these challenges to maximize information acquisition, highlighting the importance of encouraging uninterrupted narratives from suspected paedophiles. This article considers the wider application of discourse analysis to the criminal investigation.

AB - A review of the literature suggests that the principles of investigative interviewing in the UK do not translate well to the interviewing of suspects ( Clarke and Milne, 2001). In fact, studies have revealed that rather than encourage uninterrupted ordinary narratives from suspects, police officers seek institutionally preferred versions of events ( Auburn et al., 1995) and adopt legal discourse which is excessively precise ( Gibbons, 2003) and, in interviews with suspected paedophiles, sexually explicit (Benneworth, 2006). This article will explore how an interviewing officer manages this conflict in an interaction with a suspected paedophile. An investigative interview with a 54-year-old male suspected of sexually assaulting a female between the ages of 8 to 12 years was transcribed and examined using a discourse analytic framework. The analysis identifies interactional difficulties faced by the interviewer and considers the implications for the progression of the investigative interview. The findings suggest how interviewers might manage these challenges to maximize information acquisition, highlighting the importance of encouraging uninterrupted narratives from suspected paedophiles. This article considers the wider application of discourse analysis to the criminal investigation.

KW - Discourse analysis

KW - Investigative interview

KW - Language

KW - Police interrogation

KW - Suspected paedophile

KW - COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS

KW - INTERROGATIONS

KW - TALK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70349314151&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0957926509106410

DO - 10.1177/0957926509106410

M3 - Article

VL - 20

SP - 555

EP - 569

JO - Discourse and Society

JF - Discourse and Society

IS - 5

ER -