An investigator's single most useful tool is the interview.

 

The information gathered through interviews, called 'testimonial evidence', accounts for around 80 percent of evidence presented during a court case.

 

This information must be painstakingly gathered, sorted and evaluated, a process taking up to 90 percent of an investigator's time.

 

Collecting critical information from victims, witnesses and suspects is part art, part science. The best investigative interviewers are experts on the psychology of memory and human behaviour. They have attention to detail, an analytical mind, empathy, sincerity and insatiable curiosity.

 

Anyone can ask questions. But successful interviewing has to be learned and practiced as much as taking fingerprints or using firearms.

 

This week the Royal New Zealand Police College opened a dedicated facility where recruits and interview specialists will be taught the world's most advanced interviewing techniques.

 

The Investigative Interviewing Suite has three rooms where recruits and officers can work through simulated scenarios in a real-life setting. Other students can watch on screens from another room.

 

We will teach interviewing skills in four levels, from Level 1 Foundation for all recruits through to highly specialised Level 4 Interview Advisors. Four thousand frontline officers have already received Level 1 training.

 

Good interviewing helps police build positive relationships with victims, witnesses and offenders. This is critical to long-term policing. We build safer communities together.

 

It also develops integrity and sound judgement in our officers.

 

But most importantly, it builds strong court cases and paves the way to fair justice.