Parallel Session 8 – The best way to protect witnesses

Moderators:

• Paulo MARQUES, Inspector at Polícia Judiciária and Researcher at BSAFE LAb
• Ilze BĒRZIŅA, Rīga Stradiņš University

Panellists:

• Paulo MARQUES, Inspector at Polícia Judiciária and Researcher at BSAFE LAb

The cognitive interview of witnesses and victims of mobile organised crime groups: A case study of the Vory V Zakone 

• Dave WALSH, Professor in Criminal Investigation - De Montfort University, UK  - United Kingdom

Contemplating future approaches to the investigation of serious and organised crime in Europe: Contemporary research, policy initiatives, theoretical underpinnings and practical applications 

Serious and organised crime (SOC) is commonly agreed to be a major criminal threat that is constantly changing and thus providing the police with demanding challenges as to how effectively tackle this increasingly sophisticated crime in such dynamic contexts. Their ability to meet these challenges is often found evident in both the way that the crime is investigated and how its suspects and victims are interviewed.  Of the studies in this paper, the first was conducted with highly experienced police personnel, examining concepts of prospective sense-making in their endeavours to develop novel ways to combat SOC, finding a need for innovative approaches. 

The paper then examines recent policy directives concerning how investigators are recommended to conduct investigative interviews with SOC suspects, particularly in light of a recent UN-led operational manual. The paper then discusses the importance of building rapport in police interviews with victims of SOC, specifically in human trafficking cases, and providing a theoretical evidence base for its inclusion in such interviews. Finally, through the channel of a Portuguese case study, the paper illustrates how such interviewing techniques were important to its successful conclusion in that example. The overall implications of these different facets of the paper are discussed.  

• Ivar FAHSING, Assistant professor - Norwegian Police University College - Norway

Getting on the front foot with organised criminals

• Laura PAJON, Senior Lecturer - Liverpool John Moores University - United Kingdom 

Victim engagement on Human Trafficking investigations