Practical considerations around interviewing and investigating a suspect alleged to have committed a sexual offences, 23 March 2026

 

Workshop will be led by Professor Gary Shaw, MBE, former National Interview Advisor. It will provide practical strategies around the increasingly complex and challenging area of interviewing suspects who have committed sexual offences.

 

It will include best practice around the following challenges

• Offenders who have committed offences over an extended time frame

 

• Offences where there are multiple allegations committed by one offender

 

• Investigations that involve multiple victims

 

• Investigations with a single victim of multiple offences

 

• Interview strategies where there are limited evidential opportunities

 

• Adverse Inference package: Preparing to apply for an adverse inference application in later proceedings.

 

Held online via Teams

Certificates of CPD available

 

Aim of the day

The aim of the day is to provide investigators with current updates, practical skills underpinned by sound theory and to build skills and confidence.

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Who should attend?

Operational investigators, supervisors and trainers who want to develop and enhance their skills or refresh existing skills.

 

Outline of the day

Maximising Investigative Interviewing Opportunities

• Sentencing Code: Ensuring that the court has a complete picture in respect of the serious nature or mitigating factors concerning the actions of the offender

 

• Effective challenges: An outline of the important aspects of the interviewees response and highlighting the nature of the investigative material available to make key decisions concerning the suspect

 

• Adverse Inference package: Preparing to apply for an adverse inference application in later proceedings.

 

Suspect interview strategies

We look at how to plan and prepare for an interview. This will include selecting topic areas that are relevant to the type of offence under investigation, structuring the interview appropriately, and considering the pre-interview briefing and the potential impact on the interview. 

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The session will also explore the different considerations for the interview depending on whether it involves intra-familial, domestic, acquaintance or stranger offences, and whether it is an investigation into single or repeated allegations of sexual offending.

It will also explore the strategies for interviewing where there are limited evidential opportunities.

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Developing an Investigative strategy

We will focus on structuring an investigation around multiple allegations and offences committed by an offender within an extended timeframe.

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This will consider investigations involving multiple victims and investigations with a single victim of multiple offences.

 

Our speakers

Professor Gary Shaw, MBE, Professor of Professional Practice at the University of Sunderland

Gary was the National Police Chief’s Council /National Crime Agency National Investigative Interview Advisor where he led the efforts to implement the PEACE interview style into UK policing. He has provided interview advice in many of the major investigations over the past four decades.

 

He was responsible for introducing the post of force interview advisors/champions and was at the forefront of investigative interview training.

 

Dr Emma Spooner, Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Applied Investigation course, University of Sunderland

 Emma was an experienced investigator and a former Crime Investigation Support Officer in the Major Crime Investigative Support unit at the National Crime Agency, where she provided advice to investigators from police forces and wider law enforcement.

 

She is the co-author of the book Dilemmas and Decision Making in Policing.

 

Steve Hibbitt, QPM, Programme leader on MA in Investigative Management at the University of Sunderland

Steve is the author of Blackstone’s Crime Investigator’s Handbook, is one of the UK’s most experienced and longest serving investigators.

 

He is an experienced PIP3 Senior Investigative Officer (SIO), trainer and lecturer and has served as Deputy SIO on Operation Resolve, the independent inquiry into the causes of the Hillsborough Disaster.

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HOW TO BOOK

Cost: £199.50 + VAT (GBP) per delegate per workshop (LEA and Government Agency rate).  £249.50 + VAT (Industry rate), per delegate 

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Group bookings: We offer various discounts for group bookings depending on numbers, please contact us for details.

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Booking: Please send the delegates name(s), email address(es) and purchase order (made out to The Investigator) to booking@the-investigator.co.uk or telephone +44(0)844 660 8707 for further information. 

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Payment can be made by PayPal/debit/credit card. ​The meeting link will be sent out 7 days before the event.