A detective turned university professor helped police bring Nikki Allan's killer to justice, more than 30 years on from his horrific crime.
David Boyd, 55, was jailed for life this week for murdering the seven-year-old in Sunderland in 1992.
Investigations expert Gary Shaw, who has advised in some of the UK’s most high-profile crimes, was called in to share his expertise with police officers interviewing Boyd following his arrest in 2018.
George Heron, who lived in the same flats as Nikki, stood trial for Nikki's murder in 1993
But he was acquitted after it emerged he had been subjected to oppressive questioning by police, which led to him making a false 'confession' that was ruled inadmissible by a judge at the time.
The trial led to a catalyst for changes at a national level in the way police interviews were conducted, thanks to the guidance of Gary Shaw, says the University of Sunderland.
Gary, who has spent 45 years as a renowned investigator, revolutionising techniques used by detectives when interviewing suspects, is now a Professor of Professional Practice at the university.
Following a review into George Heron’s “unreliable” confession in 1994, Gary put together a Guide for Police Trainers which was distributed nationally to help police learn lessons from the interview.
And when Boyd was arrested after the advances in forensic science enabled police to link DNA found on Nikki to Boyd, of Stockton-on-Tees, Gary was brought back to help.
“I was involved in supporting Northumbria Police with putting together an interview strategy for Boyd," he said.
“I monitored the interviews live when they were being conducted too. I believe that the interview of Boyd had an important part to play in the investigation which brought the strands of the investigative material that had been gathered during the re-investigation together.
“Boyd spoke throughout the interviews only deciding to indicate ‘No Comment’ after the introduction of the exact location of his DNA in the latter stages of the process.
“I am pleased that I was able to perform a supportive role as part of the excellent team that finally brought the killer to justice.”
And Gary has explained how improvements in the way suspects are interviewed have been made since Mr Heron's acquittal.
"The PEACE* model of interviewing which was introduced at the time of the Nikki Allan murder case continues to be the national model for the police and has been adopted by other jurisdictions," he said.
“The main principle is that the interviewer is seeking accurate and reliable information which can help to prove or disprove someone’s involvement in an offence.
"How an interviewee is dealt with in a professional manner is fundamental to creating a conducive environment that affords the suspect an opportunity to give an account if they chose to do so.
“The model is not guilt presumptive as the confession-based approach was in the past, but if the interviewer is in possession of contradictory information to the account given, a suspect will still be challenged in respect of this.
“The important part is that they are challenged in a way that is acceptable in line with the existing legislation. Vulnerable people are given particular consideration at all times.”
Northumbria Police has written to Mr Heron to apologise.
And the force has also apologised to Nikki’s family including her mother, Sharon Henderson, who has never stopped campaigning to get justice.
Gary, who oversees and teaches on the BA in Applied Investigation and MA in Investigative Management programmes at the University, also leads the Centre for Crime, Policing and Investigations, working with several forces in investigative interview diplomas and research-based degrees to assist in the continuous professional development of officers.
Before joining the University, Gary had a distinguished career with Northumbria Police, during which time he became the National Interview Advisor, spending time at police forces across the country examining interview techniques and putting into place a new strategy when it came to interviewing suspects.
Some of the high-profile cases he has worked on include the 2010 murder of Joanna Yeates in Bristol, the 2008 disappearance of West Yorkshire schoolgirl Shannon Matthews.
He was also involved in investigations into the 2005 shooting of police officer Sharon Beshenivsky and the 2015 case where Emile Cilliers tried to kill his wife Victoria by tampering with her parachute before a skydive.
Professor Lynne McKenna, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Society at the University of Sunderland, said: “Professor Gary Shaw’s groundbreaking work in the field of Investigations is world renowned. The contribution Gary has made to police interviewing processes and techniques has changed the way police interviews are conducted at a national level.
“The Investigations programmes Gary leads at the University are ensuring that the next generation of police are equipped with the knowledge, skills and most up to date methods of conducting interviews.”
PEACE stands for, Preparation and Planning, Engage and Explain, Account, Closure and Evaluate.
It is a "non-accusatory" interview technique designed to develop sufficient investigative information to determine the suspect's possible involvement in the criminal behaviour under investigation.
It involves much more conversation between the interviewer and suspect, working to establish a full account of events rather than focusing on a confession.
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