Crown Prosecution Service - Interview Protocol

The Joint Interim Interview Protocol (JIIP) was introduced in April 2020 as a temporary measure, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows interviews with suspects to be conducted remotely, via video or audio links, where the suspect has been fully informed and advised, and consents.

Version 4 of the JIIP was published on 4 October 2021 and is effective from that date. Version 4 reflects the relaxation of lockdown restrictions and supports the return of all parties to police stations: the default position is that defence representatives will now attend police interviews in person unless one of four exceptional circumstances apply. Below are the four interview protocols with the most recent at the very top:

• Interview Protocol between National Police Chiefs’ Council, Crown Prosecution Service, The Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (v.4 - revised October 2021) (PDF document, 323kb)
• Interview Protocol between National Police Chiefs’ Council, Crown Prosecution Service, The Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (v.3 - revised 01 May 2021) (PDF document, 323kb)
• Interview Protocol between National Police Chiefs’ Council, Crown Prosecution Service, The Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (v.2 - revised 24 April 2020) (PDF document, 323kb)
• Interview Protocol between National Police Chiefs’ Council, Crown Prosecution Service, The Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (v.1 - 2 April 2020) (PDF document, 323kb)