Minhas, Rashid ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1479-0985, Los, Greg and Magne, Viktoria ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1305-9119 (2026) What influences witness satisfaction in police interviews? Interpersonal qualities and perceived identity bias. Psychology, Crime & Law. ISSN 1068-316X (In Press)

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Abstract

Witness interviews play an important role in criminal investigations, yet the experiences of witnesses have received comparatively limited empirical attention. This study examined how witnesses in the United Kingdom perceive the quality of police witness interviews. Seventy-four individuals who had previously been interviewed as witnesses completed a survey measuring satisfaction, interviewer professionalism, interpersonal behaviours, and perceived identity-based treatment. Quantitative analyses indicated that interviewer interest was the strongest predictor of satisfaction, outperforming demographics, professionalism, and perceived dismissal. Qualitative thematic analysis provided deeper insight into witnesses’ experiences, with participants highlighting the role of empathy, clarity, and engagement while also reporting identity-related concerns that influenced their interview experiences. The findings indicate that witnesses’ perceptions of interviews are closely linked to relational quality and perceived objectivity in how accounts were understood and represented. Greater attention to interpersonal engagement and sensitivity to identity-related concerns may inform efforts to enhance witness experiences and cooperation in investigative contexts.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1080/1068316X.2026.2737410
Keywords:	Witness interviewing; Police interviewing; Interviewer behaviour; Perceived fairness; Witness satisfaction
Subjects:	Law and criminal justice > Criminal justice > Criminology Law and criminal justice > Criminal justice > Policing and criminal investigations
Date Deposited:	23 Sep 2026
Dates:	Date Publication status 14 September 2026 Accepted
School, department or research centre:	School of Human and Social Sciences
Keywords:	Witness interviewing; Police interviewing; Interviewer behaviour; Perceived fairness; Witness satisfaction
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/15441

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