Page 205 - Deception at work all chapters EBook

206 Deception at Work

• Enclosing documentary and other exhibits in clear plastic envelopes and marking them
with exhibit labels and different coloured ‘Post-It’ notes. (Usually an innocent person will ask
about these and what they mean: the guilty party rarely will.)

• Preparing weighty files of ‘exhibits’, which may be left out on desks in the interview room
although never referred to. (The anxiety of a guilty person will be increased by these, but he won’t
say anything!)

• Preparing single page schedules summarizing important points: again these should be in
colour, with important evidence highlighted or enlarged

The visual impact (as well as control of the interview) can be enhanced by using small coloured
tabs, positioned to indicate the relevance of each document.

The more evidence the suspect believes you have, the more likely he is to confess

There are two ways in which the suspect can be confronted with key evidence. The first is
to hold it in reserve until he has committed himself to a deceptive answer and then to ambush
him with it.

LOOK AT THIS you stayed “with Mrs Jones” at the Hilton
Hotel, Budapest from 1 to 12 April.’ You
‘Bill, you told me a moment ago that you should hand him the receipt and keep it in
have never been to Budapest. You said you his personal space.
were absolutely certain. I would like you to
tell me about this receipt which shows that

If you plan to do this, make sure you have backup copies of the evidence.

EATING THE EVIDENCE addressed handed her the letter and asked
for her explanation. As quick as a flash she
A young investigator found an airmail letter popped it in her mouth and ate it. ‘What
that totally proved a narcotics smuggling letter?’ she asked. There was no backup copy.
scheme. He interviewed the rather large
Jamaican lady to whom it had been

Fumbling with papers in the interview reduces the chances of finding the truth, because it
makes you appear incompetent and puts you in the transactional role of a child.

The second way is to display some or all of the evidence, by mounting it on walls around
the interview room or laying it out on tables in the suspect’s line of sight.

You will find that the guilty person seldom says anything about displayed exhibits, al-
though you will notice his eyes drifting towards them, especially when he believes you are not
watching him. Innocent people usually comment or ask questions about displayed exhibits.

DECIDE ON THE VENUE AND TIMING

Ideally, interviews with suspects and important witnesses should be held simultaneously as
part of the first step (see page [xref]) at a time and place when the suspects are most exposed
or where they can be taken by surprise. If you cannot interview all suspects simultaneously,