What is the main purpose of an interview in law enforcement?

The primary purpose of an interview in law enforcement is to gather information from individuals who may have knowledge related to an incident. Through this process, officers can collect valuable details that can aid in investigations, understand various perspectives, and uncover leads that may not have been previously considered. Interviews may involve victims, witnesses, or others connected to the event in question, allowing law enforcement to build a comprehensive understanding of the situation and obtain necessary evidence.

This approach is fundamentally different from interrogation, which is more focused on questioning suspects about their involvement in a crime, and does not serve the same purpose of information gathering from a broader range of individuals. Surveillance pertains to observing suspects to gather evidence discreetly, while detaining individuals is a more formal action related to questioning that occurs under different circumstances, primarily involving suspects rather than witnesses.