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Conducting Tough Interviews 261

Reverse questions require the subject to recount an event from other than what he claims
was the starting position.

Example: ‘You say the robber ran out of the bank at around 2.03 pm. Starting from here, take me
backwards through your memory to the point at which you first saw him come into the bank.’

Deceptive suspects have far greater difficulty in dealing with such questions and often
make serious mistakes when recounting something in reverse order or starting halfway
through a sequence.

Changing the order of events makes liars uncertain

PARAPHRASING AND SUMMARY STATEMENTS

Summary statements can be used throughout all interviews to reinforce earlier statements
or admissions made by the subject and, where possible, should be supported by visual input
covering the ‘key points’.

Example :
• ‘So far you have told me that …’
• ‘You have agreed that …’
• ‘Let’s see if I have understood you correctly …’

They can also be used to backtrack to a safe point if an interview goes off course. You may
reinforce summary statements by agreeing and writing down bullet points with the subject.

Interviewer: ‘You have told me:
Point 1: That you were on duty at the time this happened. Is that correct?’
Subject: ‘Yes’
Interviewer: ‘Point 2: That the supervisor was asleep. Is that correct?’
Subject: ‘Yes’

And so on.

The suspect’s anxiety will increase as the process moves forward, again leading him to-
wards the pivotal point.

DECISION POINT

At the end of this phase you will have reached a conclusion on whether the suspect is lying
or not. If you believe he is being deceptive you must move on to Phase 4 and put the monkeys
on his back. If you think he has told the truth, carry on with the interview, treating him as a
potential witness.