‘I’m listening to you, but I can’t hear you’: perspectives of autistic adults, investigators and support staff on police suspect interviews

Abstract

Investigative interviews are crucial for gathering evidence within the criminal justice system, yet they are also socially and cognitively demanding encounters for autistic interviewees. In this exploratory study, we used a novel qualitative methodology to examine factors that potentially impact police suspect interviews with autistic people, as well as how adaptations could be made to current practice. Autistic participants (n = 5) were interviewed as a mock-suspect (implicated in a mock-crime) in a real-life active police custody suite by a police officer (n= 5), whilst accompanied by an appropriate adult (n= 5). Autistic adults, police officers and appropriate adults were interviewed about this experience and their broader perspectives on police interviewing practice. Using thematic analysis, three main themes and eleven sub-themes were produced: (1) Challenges for effective participation during interview; (2) Questions of suspect credibility; and (3) Assisting communication and understanding during interview. Findings were synthesised with broader literature to present a working model–the Individual Interpersonal Environmental (IIE) Vulnerability Model–which outlines how a series of interconnected individual, interpersonal and environmental factors may impact police suspect interviews with autistic people.