During the exchange, participants learned about:
• The structure of police education and professional development in the United Kingdom;
• Training programmes designed to strengthen investigative skills and decision-making;
• Methods used to build ethical leadership and professional integrity within police institutions;
• The integration of human rights principles into police training curricula;
• Practical tools used to support lawful detention practices and investigative procedures.
NEWS
Study Visit to the United Kingdom Strengthens Cooperation on Ethical Investigative Interviewing and Detention Monitoring
Study Visit to the United Kingdom Strengthens Cooperation on Ethical Investigative Interviewing and Detention Monitoring
February 2026, London, United Kingdom
As part of ongoing reform efforts aimed at strengthening investigative standards, promoting professional policing, and preventing torture and ill-treatment, a delegation from Tajikistan undertook a comprehensive study visit to the United Kingdom. The programme brought together representatives of law enforcement and oversight institutions to exchange practical experience with British counterparts on rights-compliant policing, investigative interviewing, detention safeguards, and independent monitoring mechanisms.
The study visit was jointly organised by the Centre for Development and Justice International (CDJI) and the World of Law, within the framework of a regional project funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK FCDO).
The delegation visited Metropolitan Police Service at Charing Cross Police Station, where participants explored practical approaches to policing grounded in procedural safeguards and human rights standards.
During the visit, participants:
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examined custody procedures and safeguards protecting the rights of persons deprived of liberty;
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observed the functioning of custody suites and internal oversight mechanisms;
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reviewed investigative interview rooms equipped with audio-visual recording systems;
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discussed the practical implementation of the PEACE Model of investigative interviewing.
Particular emphasis was placed on how a human rights-based approach is integrated into detention procedures and investigative interviewing processes to ensure transparency, accountability, and the protection of detainees’ rights.
Representatives shared their experience on:
• How oversight of places of detention is structured and coordinated across multiple institutions;
• The mandate, independence and operational framework of NPM members;
• Monitoring methodologies applied during visits to police custody and other places of deprivation of liberty;
• Engagement with law enforcement authorities and follow-up procedures;
• Translating international standards into practical monitoring tools and recommendations.
As part of the programme, the delegation met with representatives of the London Policing College to examine approaches to police education, professional development, and institutional capacity building.
Particular attention was given to the role of capacity building in ensuring that police officers are equipped not only with technical investigative skills but also with the knowledge and competencies required to safeguard human rights in their daily work.
The dialogue highlighted how structured training, professional standards, and accountability mechanisms serve as important tools in promoting public trust and ensuring that policing practices remain consistent with the rule of law and international human rights standards.
Participants explored:
• The core principles of investigative interviewing under the PEACE Model;
• How police officers prepare and plan for interviews;
• Techniques for interviewing suspects, victims and witnesses;
• The importance of communication, structure and active listening;
• Approaches to gathering reliable and accurate information without coercion.
Through interactive discussions and practical examples, the delegation examined how the PEACE Model supports a shift from confession-based practices towards evidence-based, ethical interviewing.
Particular emphasis was placed on the role of preparation, rapport-building, and clear procedural safeguards in ensuring both the effectiveness of investigations and the protection of human rights.
The workshop provided valuable insights into how structured training and professional standards contribute to strengthening lawful, accountable and transparent policing practices.
The study visit concluded with a practical visit to detention facilities operated by the City of London Police, allowing participants to observe investigative interviewing and detention procedures in an operational environment.
Exchange with the Metropolitan Police Service at Charing Cross Police Station
Meeting with the UK National Preventive Mechanism and Oversight Bodies
The delegation also held a substantive exchange with representatives of the United Kingdom National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) and police oversight institutions. The discussion focused on the practical implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and the operation of independent preventive monitoring systems.
The meeting was particularly timely given Tajikistan’s ongoing discussions regarding OPCAT ratification and the development of preventive monitoring mechanisms.
Strengthening Professional Policing: Exchange with the London Policing College
PEACE Model Training at the City of London Police Crime Academy
As part of the study visit to the United Kingdom, the delegation from Tajikistan participated in a specialised training workshop at the City of London Police Crime Academy. During this session, participants received an exclusive workshop on the PEACE Model of investigative interviewing, delivered by experienced practitioners.
The training provided a practical and structured overview of how investigative interviewing is conducted in line with professional standards and human rights principles.
Practical Visit to City of London Police Detention Facilities
During the visit, participants:
• Experienced the real-life set-up of investigative interviewing, including fully equipped interview rooms with audio-visual recording systems;
• Observed how police officers prepare for and conduct interviews in practice;
• Examined the institutional capacity supporting investigations, including infrastructure, technology and procedural safeguards;
• Reviewed how detainees are received, processed and held in custody in accordance with established standards;
• Explored monitoring and oversight mechanisms within detention facilities.
The visit highlighted how investigative methods are applied in practice, demonstrating a structured, transparent and accountable approach to police work. Particular attention was given to the conditions of detention and the safeguards in place to ensure the rights, dignity and wellbeing of detainees.
Participants were able to directly connect theoretical knowledge of the PEACE Model with its practical implementation, observing how ethical interviewing and procedural safeguards are embedded into everyday policing.
Promoting Rights-Based Policing and Institutional Reform
The study visit provided an important platform for professional exchange and comparative learning, enabling participants to examine international good practices in investigative interviewing, detention safeguards, and independent oversight.
By strengthening knowledge of ethical, evidence-based policing approaches and preventive monitoring mechanisms, the programme contributes to ongoing reform efforts aimed at enhancing professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights within criminal justice institutions in Tajikistan.
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