About Dr Kev Smith
I was a police officer for 30 years and an officer of the National Crime Agency for 15 years, where most of my work was in investigation. I've been involved in interviewing vulnerable children and vulnerable adult witnesses since 1989 and served as the National Vulnerable Witness Adviser to law enforcement in the UK between 2008 and 2023. I was also one of the principal authors of the national guidance for interviewing victims and witnesses (Achieving Best Evidence – ABE) in England and Wales between 2007 and 2023, and I'm the author of eight publications for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Over 17 years of part-time study between 1982 and 1999, I was awarded a first-class BA (Hons) degree in Psychology, an MA in Education (focusing on child and language development), and a PhD in Social Psychology.
I am a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS), the author of three books and 20 assorted research papers and book chapters (as shown under the "further information" tab). All my publications refer to vulnerable victims and witnesses.
I was appointed an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours in 2025 for services to law enforcement, notably in respect of vulnerable victims and witnesses.
The main focus of my work since 2017 has been managing the trauma experienced by victims and witnesses of crime.
Teaching and supervision
Interests
- Vulnerable victims and witnesses, including complex communication processes and trauma-informed practice
- Witness and defendant intermediaries
- Vulnerable victim and witness interview engagement strategies
- Vulnerable victim and witness interview strategies and plans, including needs and support assessments.
Research
My research interests and publications primarily relate to vulnerable child and adult witnesses, including complex communication needs and the management of trauma.
My publications are shown in the "further information" tab.
Further information
Publications:
Books:
- Smith, K. (2004) The Child Protection Investigator’s Companion (3rd Edition), Hook, Hampshire, New Police Bookshop
- Smith, K. and Tilney S. (2007) Vulnerable Adult and Child Witnesses, Oxford, Oxford University Press
- McGarry, D. and Smith, K. (2011) Police Family Liaison, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Chapters in Books:
- Fyfe, N. and Smith, K. (2007) Victims and Witnesses in Criminal Investigation, in T. Newburn T. Williamson and A. Wright A. (eds.) Handbook of Criminal Investigation, Collompton, Devon, Willan Publishing, pp 450-465
- Smith, K. and Milne, R. (2011) Planning the Interview, in M. Lamb., D. La Rooy, C. Katz, and L. Malloy (eds.), Children’s Testimony: A Handbook of Psychological Research and Forensic Practice (2nd edition), Chichester: Wiley, pp 87-107
- Smith, K. (2013) Victims and Witnesses, in Harfield C. (ed.) Blackstone’s Police Operational Handbook: Practice and Procedure (2nd edition), Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp 147-167
- Smith, K. and Milne, R. (2017) Vulnerable Witnesses in P. Cooper and H. Norton (eds.) Vulnerable People and the Criminal Justice System, Oxford, Oxford University Press, pp 23-55
- Smith, K. and O’Mahony, B.M. (2018) Vulnerability and Criminal Investigations, in A. Griffiths and R. Milne (eds.) The Psychology of Criminal Investigation; From Theory to Practice, Routledge, London, pp 91-112
- Carline, A., Flowe, H.D., Davies, G. and Smith, K. (2021) A Review of Existing Interview Guidance, in H.D. Flowe and A. Carline (eds.) Alcohol and Remembering Rape: New Evidence for Practice, Cham, Switzerland, Palgrave McMillan, pp 71-88
- Flowe, H.D., Carline, A., Davies, G., Smith, K. and Prior, M. (2021) Recommendations for Practice, in H.D. Flowe and A. Carline (eds.) Alcohol and Remembering Rape: New Evidence for Practice, Cham, Switzerland, Palgrave McMillan, pp 89-104
- Chenier, K., Milne, R., Smith, K. and Snook B. (2021) Interviewing Adult Complainants in Sexual Assault Cases, in N. Deslauriers-Varin and C. Bennell (eds.) Criminal Investigations of Sexual Offenses, Springer, Cham, Switzerland, (pp 67-84), https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79968-7
- Smith, K., Bull, R. and Hynes, L. (2025). Interviewing Vulnerable Groups, in R. Milne and R. Bull (eds), Investigative Interviewing: Psychology and Practice (2nd Edition), Chichester, Wiley, pp 201-234.
Papers:
- O'Mahony, B.M, Smith K., and Milne, R. (2011) The Early Identification of Vulnerable Witnesses prior to an Investigative Interview, British Journal of Forensic Practice, vol. 13, issue: 2, pp.114 – 123
- Smith, K. (2011) The Publication of the Revised Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) Guidance and the Changes to Special Measures Legislation, Counsel Magazine (November 2011) pp 30-32, London, Bar Counsel
- O'Mahony, B.M. Creaton, J., Smith, K. and Milne, R. (2016), Developing a Professional Identity in a New Work Environment: the Views of Defendant Intermediaries Working in the Criminal Courts, Journal of Forensic Practice, vol. 18, issue 2 pp. 155 – 166
- O'Mahony, B.M, Milne, R., and Smith, K. (2018) Investigative Interviewing, Dissociative Identity Disorder and the Role of the Registered Intermediary, Journal of Forensic Practice, vol. 20 issue 1, pp.10-19, https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-05-2017-0018
- Smith, K. and Milne, R. (2018) Witness Interview Strategy for Critical Incidents (WISCI), Journal of Forensic Practice, vol. 20, issue 4, pp.268-278, https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-03-2018-0007
- Milne, R., Dando, C. and Smith, K. (2020), To Remotely Interview or Not? That is the Question. Considering the Safety, Health and Well-Being of Witnesses, Victims and Interviewers, The Investigator (1 June 2020).
- Smith, K. (2021) The Benefits and the Limitations of using Remote Technology to Conduct Investigative Interviews, Criminal Justice Issues Journal of Criminal Justice and Security, vol. 21, issue 3, pp. 53-62, ISSN 274-1245, DOI: 10.51235/cji.2021.21.3.53
- O'Mahony, B.M., Milne, R. and Smith, K. (2024), The use of Intermediaries (Communication Specialists) at Parole Board Oral Hearings in England and Wales, Journal of Forensic Practice, vol. 26, issue 2, pp. 129-143. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-04-2024-0012
- Smith K. (2024) Twenty-Five Years of Achieving Best Evidence: Investigative Interviews with Victims and Witnesses in England and Wales, International Journal of Police Science and Management, vol. 26, issue 4, pp 421-428. DOI: 10.1177/14613557241298802.
Conference Papers
- O'Mahony, B.M, Milne, R., and Smith, K. (2016) Can an Intermediary Effectively Facilitate Communication during an Investigative Interview where the witness has Dissociative Identity Disorder? Symposium paper presented to the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group
- Smith, K. (2021) The Benefits and the Limitations of using Remote Technology to Conduct Investigative Interviews, paper presented at the Crimen-Forensis-Securitas (CFS) Conference "Covid-19 Pandemic: Science's Response to the Challenge of the Century" at the University of Sarajevo on 4th and 5th October, 2021
- O'Mahony, B.M., Milne, R. and Smith K. (2022) An Exploratory Study About the use of Intermediaries (Communication Specialists) at Parole Board Oral Hearings, abstract for the British Psychological Society Division of Forensic Psychology Annual Conference, Solihull, 14-16 June, 2022
- O'Mahony, B.M., Milne, R. and Smith, K. (2023) The use of Intermediaries (Communication Specialists) at Parole Board Oral Hearings in England and Wales, extended abstract for the Vulnerable Accused in the Criminal Justice System conference, University of Birmingham Law School, 13-14 September, 2023.
Publications for Government
- Office for Criminal Justice Reform (2007) Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance on Interviewing Victims and Witnesses, and Using Special Measures (2nd edition), London, Ministry of Justice*
- Ministry of Justice (2011) Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance on Interviewing Victims and Witnesses, and Guidance on Using Special Measures (3rd edition), London, Ministry of Justice*
- Ministry of Justice (2011) Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses: A Police Service Guide, London, Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Justice and National Police Chiefs' Council (2022) Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance on Interviewing Victims and Witnesses, and Guidance on Using Special Measures (4th edition), London, Ministry of Justice*.
* with Professor Rebecca Milne (University of Portsmouth) and Professor Gary Shaw (University of Sunderland)
Publications for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Police Chiefs' Council
- Association of Chief Police Officers (2010 and 2013) Advice on the Structure of Visually Recorded Witness Interviews (1st and 2nd editions), London, ACPO**
- Association of Chief Police Officers (2011) ACPO Position Statement: The Presence of Supporters during Interviews with Witnesses, London, ACPO
- Association of Chief Police Officers (2011) ACPO Position Statement: The use of "Truth and Lies", Declarations and Oaths in Video-Recorded Interviews with Witnesses, London, ACPO
- Association of Chief Police Officers (2012) ACPO Position Statement: The Effective use of Witness Intermediaries in Investigative Interviews, London, ACPO
- Association of Chief Police Officers (2014) ACPO Position Statement: The use of the Polygraph in Investigations, London, ACPO
- National Police Chiefs' Council (2015) National Policing Position Statement: Using Body Worn Video to Record Initial Contact with Victims, Witnesses and Suspects, London, NPCC**
- National Police Chiefs' Council (2015) Advice on the Structure of Visually Recorded Witness Interviews (3rd edition), London, NPCC**.
** with Gary Shaw
Work in progress:
Chapters in Books:
- Smith, K. and Hynes, L. (in press) Planning the Forensic Interview, in W. O'Donohue and R. Bull (eds) Forensic Interviews Regarding Adult Sexual Assault Complainants: A Guide to Evidence Based Practice, Springer, New York
- Smith, K. (in press). The Vulnerability of Victims and Witnesses to Crime in Police Interviews. In R. Alleweldt & S. Schade (eds), The Police, Investigative Interviewing and Human Rights: Legal, Psychological and Practical Aspects, Berlin, Springer Nature.