Improving the Interviewing of Suspects Using the PEACE Model: A Comprehensive Overview.

This article focuses on the development and global influence of non-coercive investigative interviewing methods, particularly the PEACE model, and the 2021 United Nations "Principles of Effective Interviewing." Originating in England and Wales in 1992, the PEACE method—comprising Planning, Explain/Engage, Account, Closure, and Evaluation phases—was developed to replace coercive interrogation with evidence-based, rapport-building techniques informed by psychology. Research indicates that PEACE-trained interviewers demonstrate improved skills such as empathy, flexibility, and effective questioning, which correlate with obtaining more accurate and comprehensive information from suspects. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan Mendez, advocated for a universal protocol of non-coercive interviewing standards, culminating in the 2021 Principles of Effective Interviewing that emphasize ethical, transparent, and scientifically informed practices to reduce false confessions and miscarriages of justice. Studies from various countries support the effectiveness of rapport-based, non-coercive approaches over accusatorial or coercive methods in eliciting reliable information during investigative interviews.