Factors Limiting the Implementation of the Cognitive Interview into the Czech Police Practice

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate what may be limiting the implementation of the cognitive interview (CI) into the police practice in the Czech Republic. While there is nearly 30 years' worth of laboratory research on the CI and its effectiveness, there is not much evidence of the CI being implemented into the police practice, for which it was originally intended. The current study, therefore, aimed to define and evaluate factors, which may be limiting the implementation of the CI into the police practice, with a focus on the Czech Republic. The study was conducted with 34 Czech CPIS officers, and the data for this study was collected through online questionnaires. The findings showed that the most resistance to the implementation of the CI would be on the organisation (the police) level, as there did not seem to be enough opportunities for officers to learn new interviewing techniques. Surprisingly, limitations associated with the method itself, such as the long duration of the CI or the need for cooperative witnesses, were not found to be significant in this study. Limitations of this study and its implications for further research into human security are also discussed. Keywords: police practice, witness interview, cognitive interview, Czech police, human security