Reframing intelligence interviews: The applicability of psychological research to HUMINT elicitation

This chapter focuses on the psychological aspects of techniques available for gathering information, and in particular intelligence collection, the underlying psychological principles of conducting an effective interview are relevant to a wider audience. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 covers aspects of Law Enforcement Agency’s interaction with members of the public. Police approaches to prisoners detained in custody suites offer fertile ground for intelligence exploitation. However, who undertakes this activity will determine the success or otherwise of the collection effort. The importance of rapport to elicitation success is rarely challenged by practitioners. Rapport facilitates the establishment of effective professional alliances between a Source Handler and informant or between an investigative interviewer and the interviewee. The process of eliciting intelligence from remanded and sentenced prisoners across the English and Welsh prison estate requires a systematic approach, emphasising the application of rapport building before the interview moves to elicitation strategies.