Trade.Information

A powerful new tool that 'freezes' the memory of crime scenes in the minds of witnesses.

Scientists have developed a powerful new tool that 'freezes' the memory of crime scenes in the minds of witnesses.

The tool, developed by a team led by the University of Abertay Dundee, combats natural memory decay by using the latest cognitive psychology techniques.

Witnesses use a self-administered interview (SAI) to 'freeze' images and details of crime scenes and perpetrators in their minds, particularly small and seemingly insignificant details that often turn out to be crucial in solving cases.

Tests at simulated crimes scenes showed that witnesses using the tool reported 42% more information that was forensically relevant and accurate than other witnesses who were simply asked to 'report as much as you can remember'.

The tests also revealed that witnesses using SAI recorded 44% more personal details about other people - ie, possible suspects - who had been involved in the event.

In another test, researchers waited seven days after an event before asking witnesses to provide a full account. Half of the witnesses had completed SAIs just after the event, while the others had given only their names and contact details. A week later, those who had completed the SAI were still reporting almost 30 per cent more correct details than those who had not.

The SAI protocol tool is being developed by Dr Fiona Gabbert from the University of Abertay Dundee, supported by Dr Lorraine Hope (University of Portsmouth) and Professor Ronald Fisher (Florida International University), supported by a £55,622 grant from the British Academy.

Dr Gabbert’s team worked with police forces in Scotland and England to develop the witness ‘recall and report’ tool to record memories at the earliest possible opportunity - at the scene of the incident.

Dr Gabbert said the completeness and accuracy of eyewitness evidence decreases over time: the longer the gap between witnessing an event and fully recalling it under formal interview conditions, the less accurate and less complete a witness report is likely to be.

"Decades of research in cognitive psychology demonstrate that memory decay, or forgetting, occurs rapidly at first. In a witnessing situation, this ‘forgetting’ will occur naturally and within hours of the incident. As the delay between witnessing and formal interview increases to days, memory decay will level off. However, by that time, many useful and forensically relevant details or clues may be lost forever," she said.

Dr Gabbert said the SAI tool could play a significant role for law enforcement as the benefits were obvious - witnesses have the opportunity to record their memories before any potentially crucial information is forgotten.

"The forensic implications of these findings for current police practice are considerable. At present witnesses are likely to engage in a very brief initial interview prior to giving a full statement at some later date. This very brief initial interview may actually have a detrimental effect on the ability of a witness to fully recall the incident at a later occasion. In other words, only the memory for the brief outline is strengthened - not the memory for the details, which can sometimes become harder to recall as a result," Dr Gabbert said.

"Research has proven, however, that recalling an event before any substantial forgetting or memory loss has taken place means that the way the event is represented in memory is strengthened, making it easier to recall in future. In this way, an early recall attempt serves to protect or ‘freeze’ the memory against the course of natural forgetting."

Dr Gabbert said using the techniques of the cognitive interview, and providing instructions to think carefully about the witnessing environment and report everything no matter how insignificant without resorting to guesswork, the SAI supports the witness in both the recall and reporting of as much information as possible before that information has been lost.

(ends)

NOTES FOR EDITORS

- Participants in the studies were community-based participants of all ages and backgrounds.

- Dr Fiona Gabbert is a psychologist in the School of Social & Health Sciences at the University of Abertay Dundee.

ADDITIONAL NOTES (CAN BE USED AS QUOTES BY DR GABBERT)

The SAI draws on the core principles of the cognitive interview which has been shown to facilitate witness recall and is a recommended interviewing technique. Since its original conception by Fisher and Geiselman, the cognitive interview has been closely scrutinised in both laboratory experiments and in police practice and the technique has been improved by several revisions. Overall, research and experience suggests that using a cognitive approach to interviewing witnesses increases the quality, accuracy and completeness of the information obtained. Furthermore, the use of cognitive techniques do not impact on subsequent witness credibility in court.

The SAI incorporates the ‘context reinstatement’ and ‘report everything’ elements of cognitive interview protocol. Early stage development of the SAI focused on creating a simple set of written instructions and questions that could easily be understood by witnesses. All instructions were carefully tested to ensure potential witnesses understand exactly what is required of them when provided with the tool.

The next stage for the researchers is to continue with further testing of the tool in different settings and circumstances. Developing a more high tech version of the SAI is also on the researchers’ agenda. The current format - requiring witnesses to complete the SAI form by hand - may be a limiting factor for some witnesses with literacy difficulties. Another issue under consideration is how the evidentiary status of information recorded using an SAI form might be established. Depending on the nature of any implementation of the SAI, it will be important to maximise the reliability and credibility of the witness reports recorded using the SAI within the legal system. As it stands, the SAI will maximise the control police have over the initial brief interview and enable the best information possible to be obtained as soon as possible at the scene or shortly afterwards - witnesses are also more likely to be sure of their report so soon after the event rather than after a delay.

News Inside News:
About Dandee-
Dundee’s cultural renaissance is progressing hand in hand with its economic and social regeneration. With a population of approximately 143,000, the City of Discovery has punched well above its weight in reinventing itself as a city renowned for its energy, expertise and entrepreneurialism. Its reputation for excellence in fields as diverse as the life sciences and creative industries is spreading nationally and internationally and the city is moving into a new phase of development.

Indeed the spirit of discovery is at the heart of the “new” Dundee. Scotland’s fourth city has shed its image of post-industrial decline and transformed itself in to a buzzing hub of activity where the emphasis is on scientific excellence and artistic and cultural verve. As an educational centre, Dundee has one of the highest student ratios per head of population anywhere in the UK and this energy brings a whole new dimension to the city’s nightlife, leisure and cultural facilities.

Its rejuvenated city centre has created one of the finest shopping zones in Scotland and multi-million pound plans for major investment in reuniting the city with its waterfront are underway. Dundee’s transformation and growing sense of confidence is perhaps best symbolised by the opening last year of the Maggie’s Centre building, the first in Britain to be designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry. Its’ striking concertinaed, stainless steel roof and beautiful aspect overlooking the River Tay capture the essence of a city very much on the rise.
More information on Abertay University: www.abertay.ac.uk

(Ends) Media enquiries: Kevin Coe T: 01382 308 452 M: 07850 904110

Release link: http://www.abertay.ac.uk/News/NewsDetails.cfm?NewsID=1142&Key=006.001