Game-based learning for police training in child interviewing [Ref 2.06]

Academic team: Dr Anne Adams, Jenny Hart, Andy Ryan 
Policing partners: Lancashire Police, Metropolitan Police Service, Thames Valley Police
Status: Complete

We have developed an award-winning child witness interview training simulation (CWIS) that addresses gaps in the knowledge and skills of new recruits and serving officers when interviewing child witnesses to build rapport with children and develop the quality of communication skills. CWIS incorporates triggers for emotional recognition to support the training of rapport building of early career front-line police officers when interviewing children.

Embedding CWIS within training will enable the police to obtain the following benefits:

  • Decreasing time taken to gain competency in child interviewing
  • Promoting deeper understanding of the many factors affecting child interviewing in the real world
  • Enriching traditional classroom training approach
  • Enabling large-scale deployment outside the classroom

Outputs

TitleOutputs typeLead academicYear
Co-created evaluation: identifying how games support police learningJournal itemAdams, A2019
Winning evidenceArticleAdams, A2018
Child witness interview simulator for UK police - trailerVideo 2017
Game-based learning for police training in child interviewingFinal ReportAdams, A2017
Understanding engagement within the context of a safety critical gamePaperHart, J2017
Simulation-based learning for police training in gaining initial accounts from childrenConference posterAdams, A2017
Game-based learning for police training in child interviewingExecutive summaryAdams, A2016
Exploring emotion representation to support dialogue in police training on child interviewingConference paperMargoudi, M2016

News

Blog post - Managing Ultra's in European football: Why cultural knowledge matters as much as intelligence

As English clubs once again enter the closing stages of all three European competitions, policing football-related disorder abroad and managing visiting Ultra groups in the UK remains a salient policing issue across the country. These fixtures take place within highly visible and politically sensitive environments where policing decisions can carry significant implications not only for public safety, but also for legitimacy, public confidence, and international relationships between clubs, supporters and police agencies.

18th May 2026