Week 3: How reliable are confessions in criminal investigations?
Introduction
Welcome to Week 3! You’ll jump straight back into the investigation.
Last week you observed the first part of the suspect interview with Neale and this week will open with you returning to that interview. You will re-join the interview several hours later. Of course, Neale will not have been interviewed continuously throughout this time as there are rules and regulations about allowing breaks for interviewees. You will re-join the interview at the ‘Challenge’ stage (from the PEACE mnemonic) where Bullet is challenging Neale’s account with other evidence that he has obtained.
Remember that the detective team and case are entirely fictional, and this course is not attempting to replicate a police investigation exactly as it would be conducted by a real police force. It is fair to say that the interview being conducted by DI Bullet would be considered bad practice by the police in the UK.
What you think of it and how it would be seen in other jurisdictions are questions you will return to later in the week.