Fraud and Peace: Investigative Interviewing and Fraud Investigation
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FRAU D A N D PE AC E : I N V ESTI G AT I V E I N T E RVIE WING AN D F R AUD I N V E ST I GAT IO N And i e S haw yer a a nd D ave Wal sh b a
Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK School of Law and Criminology, University of Derby, Derby, UK
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Correspondence: Andie Shawyer, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth, St George’s Building, Portsmouth PO1 2HY, UK. E-mail: [email protected]
A b stra ct The adaptation and application of the “PEACE” framework for investigative interviewing in public sector counter-fraud was intended to create a more professional body of trained counter-fraud interviewers and a more standardized interview model. This paper discusses the importance of interviewing in the investigation process, with specific reference to fraud. Specifically, it will examine the Department for Work and Pensions public sector agency. It examines how successfully the PEACE model can fit into fraud investigative interviewing, and investigates the attitudes and perceptions of fraud investigators to the PEACE framework as applied to the fraud interview. The paper refers to research indicating that PEACE is not being consistently applied in all interviews, and that some elements of the model might work better than others in relation to fraud interviews. Further, the paper highlights the mixed reaction of investigators to using the model, and leads to the proposition that perhaps the model needs to be adapted to “fit” fraud interviews.
Key wo rds investigate interviewing; PEACE; fraud; public sector; DWP Crime Prevention and Community Safety (2007) 9, 102–117. doi:10.1057/palgrave.cpcs.8150035
Crime Prevention and Community Safety 2007, 9, (102–117) © 2007 Palgrave Macmillan Ltd 1460-3780/07 $30.00 www.palgrave-journals.com/cpcs
Crime Prevention and Community Safety 103
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his paper discusses some of the issues associated with interviewing fraudsters, and in particular to focus on the very unique nature of fraud and the implications of this in terms of the use of the PEACE model, a framework originally developed for “standard” police interviews. The article will also cite some of the findings from the current research of the two authors to support discussions (this research has not yet been published in its entirety, but will be available in the coming months – please contact either author for details).
T h e D e p a r t m e n t fo r Wo r k a n d Pe n si o n s ( D W P ) In 1995, the Benefits Agency (the predecessor to DWP) instigated a “Five Year Security Strategy” to deal with fraud. This comprised a number of initiatives, including the replacement of the established methods of payments (order books and cheques) with automated credit transfer of benefits to the bank account of the beneficiary, increased data matching of the differing government computer systems, and centralized benefit computer systems for more cross-checking. In the 1970s, the number of prosecutions for benefit fraud had risen, and this was seen as
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