Interrogation techniques in criminal proceedings and the establishment of facts in court
- Details
- Published: October 6, 2026
As witnesses in criminal proceedings are heard in the main hearing due to the direct nature of the taking of evidence, the outcome of criminal proceedings depends directly on the quality of the statements obtained. Public prosecutors, too, form their convictions on the basis of the main hearing in criminal proceedings. Whilst the theory of questioning is covered in detail in police training in Uzbekistan, it is not covered at all, or at least not sufficiently, in training for public prosecutors.
It was precisely here that a practical training course organised by the IRZ, conducted jointly with the Tashkent Regional Public Prosecutor’s Office, began for Uzbek public prosecutors on 22 and 23 September 2026 in Nurafshon. Our aim: to ensure that indictments are constructed more effectively in future, with a view to strengthening criminal prosecution and improving the overall efficiency of criminal proceedings.
Teaching Methodology
Two experienced German judges taught methods for conducting interviews and explained how to assess evidence in criminal proceedings. At the same time, they highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of individual types of evidence and their impact on criminal proceedings. Through interactive exercises, participants were able to work on their soft skills in questioning witnesses and accused persons and discuss how the nature of the questions asked can influence the outcome of criminal proceedings.
Practical Handbook
The content of the training is underpinned by a comprehensive practical handbook. This format serves to ensure the long-term retention of knowledge, as it also provides professional benefits to a wider audience beyond the participants. Furthermore, it strengthens users’ motivation to engage more deeply with the fundamentals of interrogation theory in their own day-to-day professional lives.
Naturally, the translated handbook can be used not only by the Crown Prosecution Service, but equally by the judiciary and the legal profession. This provides various Uzbek professional groups with practical, day-to-day assistance in the long term, which can lead to improved professional competence amongst all those involved in criminal proceedings and, consequently, to a systemic improvement within the criminal justice system as a whole.