Page 53 - When Things Go Wrong

dossier. The Working Party appreciates that ABE interviews are resource-
intensive and that use of video recording cannot be extended to every witness
in cases where there are hundreds on the scene of a fatal event.

3.19 Finally, we recommend that in order to reduce as far as possible the potentially
re-traumatising effect of interviews, evidence-gathering teams should
undergo training on trauma-informed practice and communication with
those who have suffered catastrophic bereavement. Clinicians (including
psychologists and trauma-informed speech and language therapists), and
where relevant NGOs with specialist knowledge should play a role in
designing and delivering training programmes, in consultation with bereaved
people and survivors. For example, we understand that the Infected Blood
inquiry team was given training on evidence gathering by the Red Cross. 141

Evidence sharing

3.20 In order to better progress investigations and reduce the number of witness
interviews, where possible, agencies should continually update one another
as information emerges about the circumstances of a fatal incident. A
model is provided in the current MoU between the AAIB and Association of
Chief Police Officers (ACPO). 142 Evidence sharing should encompass so far
as possible the statements of those witnesses who are not interviewed under
caution.

3.21 The Working Party recognises the difficulty in evidence sharing between (and
indeed rationalisation of) police investigations aiming to ascertain
blameworthiness, and other investigations aiming purely to prevent future
recurrence. In the latter, there may be strong public interest in the granting of

141 See Infected Blood Inquiry, ‘Newsletter: Issue 6’ (October 2019), p. 2.
142 Chief Constable Alex Marshall, ‘Memorandum of Understanding between the Air Accident
Investigation Branch (AAIB) and ACPO’, 2012, see para 1.1.4. As a general principle, investigating
agencies should also collaborate in the development of best practice. The European Network of Civil
Aviation Safety Investigation Authorities (ENCASIA) was cited in evidence as an example of a forum
in which effective collaboration occurs.
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