Fiona Gabbert

Fiona also chairs the Scientific Committee of the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group (iIIRG) and has an international reputation for  research in the fields of suggestibility of memory and investigative interviewing, that has a strong focus on improving the usability, credibility, and reliability of evidence from victims and witnesses. Her work has had an international impact on police operational procedure and policy including the introduction of new evidence-based investigative interview tools and training resources to the field, such as the Self-Administered Interview and the Structured Interview Protocol. Her work is supported by competitively won grants, and published extensively in both academic and practitioner journals.

Fiona regularly works as a collaborator and consultant with practitioners and policy-makers to develop and embed effective investigative interview practice. She has delivered interview training to agencies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague, and the Royal Air Force in the UK. The College of Policing (UK) recently commissioned Professor Gabbert and her Research Team to produce a searchable database of scientific research on the topics of (i) interviewing witnesses, (ii) interviewing suspects, and (iii) training investigative interviewing. Subsequently, Professor Gabbert was invited to work with the College of Policing to develop new evidence-based 'Authorised Professional Practice' (APP) policy for frontline officers conducting Initial Account Interviews (to be introduced to all UK police forces later this year). 

In July 2018, Fiona was invited to advise on the development and drafting of a Universal Protocol on Investigative Interviewing which will support the legal prohibition of torture by introducing ethical, non-coercive, and evidence-based policy and practice to facilitate the disclosure of reliable information.