Supporting the interviewing and legal representation of crime victims and suspects using digital communication methods. Is it 'remotely possible?

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Reacting to COVID-19 required significant, immediate changes to Government processes including the Criminal Justice System. Police investigations must continue, and victims, witnesses and suspects of crime must be interviewed. However, social distancing and other restrictive measures means that police investigators are unable to conduct interviews, and legal/third party professionals are unable to communicate with clients in a traditional format. Thus, remote communication is one such way currently being conducted across the UK (and elsewhere in the world), however, this practice is not standardised and the current research-base to prove its efficacy is extremely limited. The research team comprises experts in the field and will work in collaboration with our national and international partners who include the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), the College of Policing, various police forces in England and Wales, Fair Trials, the National Appropriate Adults Network (NAAN), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA). We will produce timely and much-needed evidence-based reports and resources to enable immediate and direct impact for our partners and stakeholders. These resources will be available at key stages of the project in order to facilitate shared good practice around two main aspects (comprising four Work Packages): (i) the challenges of conducting interviews remotely via digital means in attempts to gain detailed and accurate information, and; (ii) the impact of not having legal and other third party representatives in physical attendance to represent suspects (particularly vulnerable ones) in the police station.