The ORBIT Helios Program: Remote Learning Options for Rapport-Based Interviewing

Monday, October 16, 2023

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM PST

Location: Room: 11B

Submitter and Speaker(s)

Laurence Alison

Head of Centre for Critical Incident Decision-Making
University of Liverpool
Holywell, Wales, United Kingdom

Speaker(s)

Emily Alison

Research Associate
University of Liverpool
Holywell, Wales, United Kingdom
Frances Surmon-Bohr, PhD

Research Associate
Protagoras Forensic Services & Interventions Ltd
Holywell, Wales, United Kingdom

Over the last 20 years, research has consistently demonstrated that a rapport-based approach to interviewing reduces resistance, increases engagement, and most importantly, increases the amount of yield (e.g., information of intelligence or evidential value). However, rapport building can be challenging to teach. Helios (funded by the National Crime Agency) provides an interactive e-learning program to improve rapport-building skills. It has now been piloted and evaluated with over 150 officers across the UK, and is able to discern baseline rapport-building skills, eliminate or reduce those behaviors that damage rapport, and identify those officers who are ready to advance to more intensive and costly face-to-face training, reducing the need for lengthy abstraction.