If you’re one of the millions of people who have been hooked on “Line of Duty” Season 5 over recent weeks, you’ll have noticed all those police interviews taking place and being recorded – from Superintendent Hastings to Lisa McQueen we’ve seen more interviews than ever this season.
Police interviews form an integral part of building a case when investigating a crime. Officers interview victims, witnesses and suspects and the content of these interviews is central to the success of an investigation. These interviews must be conducted according to the highest professional standards, the quality of which can help
- give direction to an investigation
- gather important supporting material, the use of which can lead to a prosecution or early release of an innocent person
- provide supporting evidence for the prosecution case, which helps save time, money and resources
- increase public confidence in the police service, especially for those who come into direct contact with the police such as witnesses and victims of crimes
It’s the combination of these accounts of those who have witnessed an important aspect of a crime being committed or those who played a central role in the crime, and additional sources of material such as CCTV images, fingerprints and forensic material that make up the body of evidence for an investigation.
Throughout the whole process the highest standards must be upheld, which is one the reasons why they are recorded.
Here at FSTL we have years of experience of dealing with transcription in the legal sector, in the transcription of police interviews. We understand that when it comes to law enforcement and prosecutorial transcription, the expectations are different from or rather even more important than with other forms of transcription, and require a great deal of expertise.
Accuracy is a must.
The evidence will form part of what is submitted in court. It will be used to either prosecute or defend a defendant. As such, the transcription must be 100% accurate. These interviews must be transcribed completely verbatim, every ‘erm’,‘er’, repetition and pause is included and in the case of video interviews, non-verbal signs such as nodding or shaking of the head or other gestures need to also be included in a transcript. This is because the documents are submitted in conjunction with other key evidence and are closely scrutinised in court. It is of particular importance when a child is being interviewed.
Time is of the essence
In order for a case to be built, interviews need to be conducted quickly and then transcribed just as quickly. Each new piece of evidence can form a vital element of building the case so that the various law enforcement agencies can do their job well. Being able to move quickly means the puzzle can be completed more quickly, which is essential for operating an effective justice system.
All in confidence
Confidentiality is often important but we understand that for police interview transcription it’s absolutely essential. The risks of information leaking out can result in false accusations, threats to victims or witnesses, loss of confidence from the public – all of which can ultimately result in the demise of the case. Every aspect of transcription must be treated with the utmost confidence, and at FSTL we completely understand just how important this is.
A sensitive touch
In some cases the material within the recording is incredibly sensitive and can be distressing. You only need to look at the criminal cases that make the news headlines to recognise that at some point there will have been interviews conducted where the finer details of the case were raised repeatedly, and that this content will have been transcribed. Having experienced police interview transcribers means that at some point in their career they will have dealt with sensitive material. They may have had to transcribe the indescribable. But their training and skills will ensure they achieve a transcription that is accurate and correct.
We’ll be watching the final episode of Line of Duty on Sunday with bated breath… will we ever find out who H is?!