ABSTRACT
Investigating sexual assault is an exceptionally challenging task. The unique criminal circumstances surrounding sexual offences – and in particular the scarcity of corroborating evidence – mean that investigators are largely reliant on the account provided by the complainant to establish whether or not a criminal offence has occurred. The way in which these accounts are elicited therefore becomes paramount. Decades of research have shown us how to maximize the completeness and accuracy of witnesses’ accounts. Several features of adult sexual assault cases, however, mean that current methods of conducting investigative interviews appear to fall short on several levels. This chapter outlines the interview-related obstacles faced by complainants, police investigators, and prosecutors involved in sexual assault cases. It then begins to consider the way forward.
