The introduction of video recording facilities in police interviews is to enhance the transparency of the process of statement-taking with a view to increasing their admissibility in court.

In the early days, DTD offered a five-day Interview Development Training Course as an independent module for potential crime officers. The course included training on techniques of planning and preparation of interviews, listening, questioning, communication and conversation management, as well as logistic issues related to video recording interviews.

In 2002, interview development training was incorporated into the Standard Criminal Investigation Course (SCIC) as a compulsory subject for potential crime officers.

Training on a higher level of interviewing techniques has also become an integral part of the Advanced Criminal Investigation Course, which DTD runs for in-service crime officers being considered for posting to District/Regional/Crime HQ units.

Owing to increasing training needs of frontline officers, DTD has also incorporated training on basic interview techniques into the Basic Investigation Course and District Special Duties Squad Course, which DTD runs for Uniform Branch officers.

Since the 1990s, DTD has been providing interview development training for an increasing number of officers. From 2002 to June this year, over 2,000 Force members and over 150 officers from Mainland Public Security Bureau, Macao Judiciary Police and other law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong, including Independent Commission Against Corruption, Customs and Excise Department, Immigration Department and Correctional Services Department, have received such training.

Provision of the training now falls on the shoulders of two DTD instructors, Chief Inspector Yuen Shing-kit and Woman Senior Inspector Cheung Sheung-hing. Both are qualified instructors, having attended a Suspects Interviewing Course at the Kent Police College, England.

Speaking of the development of video recording of police interviews, WSIP Cheung pointed out that originally the recording was introduced for interviews of persons associated with more serious crimes. To enhance the transparency and the quality of police investigations, video recording is now also being used in selected less serious crimes that have a sensitive nature or public concerns.

In addition to providing training in its standing courses, DTD also looks after other training requirements of Force members, CIP Yuen said. From October last year to March this year, DTD has tailor-made a training course on video interviewing techniques for over 50 officers from special investigation units of Traffic Branch. "These officers require such training because the maximum term of imprisonment for 'Dangerous Driving Cause Death' has been increased from five to 10 years, and most of these cases would be heard at the District Court or Court of First Instance and therefore more chances of using video interviewing techniques. DTD is now working with Traffic Headquarters regarding training for more traffic officers," he explained.

DTD also tailor-makes training to meet the specific needs of Districts. A half-day workshop for Mong Kok District officers in September last year was a good example, CIP Yuen added.

Way Ahead

SP Pang added that since the introduction of recording facilities in police interviews, the Force has set up a total of 72 Video Interview Rooms, comprising two in the Police College for training purposes, 60 in Regions, nine in Crime Wing Headquarters and one at the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre. With the advance in technology, the traditional use of videotapes would eventually be replaced by digital. To keep pace with the changing environment, video recording facilities in the Force would soon migrate to a new generation of digital recording equipment. Two sets of digital recording equipment have been set up in DTD and would be used in the upcoming SCIC for training. Meanwhile, equipment throughout the Force would be upgraded in phases.

SP Pang (centre) discusses the way forward for training on Police interview techniques with her staff, CIP Yuen and SIP Cheung