Introduction 1. What is an Informant? 2. Understanding Informants 3. Relationship Building 4. Organisational Objectives 5. The Practitioner’s Perspective 6. Alternate Interview Models 7. Keeping It Ethical 8. Review and Research 9. Welfare 10. Information 11. Tasking 12. Security 13. Understanding Context 14. Sharing 15. An Example of R-WITS-US 16. Conclusion
Biography
Lee Moffett has over 25 years of law enforcement experience as well as an MSc and PhD in investigative psychology. His research examines police informant interactions and includes Keeping our wits about us: Introducing a bespoke informant interview model for covert human intelligence source (CHIS) interactions.
Drawing on both practitioner experience and academic expertise, the author adopts a holistic and evidence-informed approach to conceptualising informant interviews. This book offers a nuanced and in-depth exploration of a critically important, and often scrutinised, aspect of contemporary policing. Grounded in empirical research, it illuminates the range of interviewing strategies available to informant handlers and examines the complex social dynamics that can often impede effective engagement. I commend the author for delivering such a comprehensive and insightful contribution to a traditionally opaque area of police practice.
Gavin Oxburgh, Professor of Police Science at Northumbria University and Assistant Director of The Northern Hub for Veteran and Military Families Research
This groundbreaking book examines the practical application of a growing body of academic research. Featuring a detailed explanation of the R-WITS-US informant interview model and a range of relevant psychological techniques, it serves as an essential guide for practitioners and a foundational resource for students in this evolving field.
Fiona Gabbert, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Forensic Psychology Unit at Goldsmiths University of London
Lee Moffett’s Interviewing Police Informants: A Practitioner’s Guide is a game-changer. Having worked with informants across the UK and overseas for 15 years, I know the minefield this area presents. At last, here’s the structured, no-nonsense guidance practitioners have been crying out for—clear, practical, and long overdue.
Kelvin Lay, MBE. Director Childlight Technical Advisory Program, The University of Edinburgh
