4 th International Evidence Based Policing Conference

1. 4th International Evidence Based Policing Conference Prisoner Debriefing An Evidence Based Approach

2. IntelligenceDebriefing of Prisoners • Not conducted to obtain: • Evidence of prisoner offending • Evidence against co-defendants • Research data • Are conducted to: • Obtain intelligence – for action • Respond to intelligence gap/requirement • Scan population - approach prisoners • Some talk – some walk

3. Not Conventional Informants • No legislation for this activity • Shorter relationship • Initial debrief + follow up • Different motivation • Improved conditions, social factors • Limited finance • Environment • Compromise, mismanagement = serious consequences

4. Why Research this Subject? • Human intelligence vital • Anecdotal success – but no evidence • Public sector austerity measures • Potential opportunities • 140 prisons – 85k prisoners • Captive audience • Criminality orchestrated in prison

5. Purpose of the Research Establish from an evidence base: • Effectiveness • How successful is the tactic • How valuable is the intelligence • Is it a good use of resources • Efficiency • Could it be more efficient • Improve the level of cooperation

6. Research Data218 Interview Documents

7. Offence for which Imprisoned

8. Frequency Analysis - Cooperation • Cooperation 57% • An effective use of limited resources? • Comparative analysis – literature • Prison environment - motivation

9. Intelligence – Volume and Value

10. Improving Efficiency • Is it possible to improve cooperation? • Correlation analysis • Dependent variable ‘cooperation’ • Independent variables

11. Summary of Findings:Age and Cooperation • Direct correlation between age and cooperation (r=0.164, n=216, p=0.016) • Negative relationship between ageing and delinquency • Convicted criminals: • Older and more established • Play the system • Manipulate surroundings • Revenge on those responsible

12. Summary of Findings:Gender and Cooperation • Greater cooperation with male only interviewers (p=0.046) • Male 61%, female 45% • Unsuccessful debriefs – culture and faith issues • Female interviewing female – small sample 7/9 successful • 55% male prisoners cooperated • 69% female prisoners cooperated

13. Summary of FindingsOffence and Cooperation • Conviction offence and cooperation (p=0.019) • In prison for a drugs offence (p=0.015): 79% cooperated • Previous drugs conviction – no impact • Convicted of serious sexual offence 6/7 • Previous convictions and cooperation – no relationship

14. Summary of FindingsSentence and Cooperation • Relationship between prison sentence and cooperation (p=0.032) • Short sentence (up to 4 years) 59% • Over 4 years 68% • Indeterminate 73% (small sample) • Life 50% • ‘Other’ (immigration) 36%

15. Conclusions • Evidence to show that confidential debriefing works • Evidence to show valuable intelligence is collected across actionable and strategic areas • Criteria identified that will improve level of cooperation • But further research required

16. 4th International Evidence Based Policing Conference Prisoner Debriefing An Evidence Based Approach