Simon Wells
Simon Wells is one of CREST’s Research to Practice Fellows. Simon worked for 30 years with the Metropolitan Police (New Scotland Yard), the last 20 years of which he specialised in utilising Behavioural Science to the benefit of law enforcement. Simon is a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University.
His recent work has focused on translating research into practice and assessing its validity for users. These have included the High Value Detainee Interrogation group of the United States Government, the Critical Incident Response Group Crisis Negotiation Unit and Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI. Simon also provides coaching and mentoring support to members of the UK Ministry of Defence, and UK Law Enforcement.
CREST Outputs
Articles
Academic Publications
Enhancing Practise Through Science
Brandon, S., Arthur,J., Ray, D., Meissner, C., Russano, M., Wells, S. & Kleinman, S. (2018). Enhancing Practise Through Science. Manuscript submitted for Publication.
Science-based interviewing: Information elicitation
Brandon, S. E., Wells, S., & Seale, C. (2017). Science-based interviewing: Information elicitation. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 15. DOI:10.1002/jip.1496
Commonalities and complementarities among the Cognitive Interview, ORBIT, the Cylinder Model, and Methods of Detecting Deception: Towards a Theory of Interrogation
Brandon, S. E., & Wells, S. (2019). Commonalities and complementarities among the Cognitive Interview, ORBIT, the Cylinder Model, and Methods of Detecting Deception: Towards a Theory of Interrogation. In J. Dickinson, N. Scriber Compo, R. Carol, M. McCauley & B. Schwartz (Eds.), Evidence-Based Investigative Interviewing. Routledge: New York, NY.
Science Based Interviewing
Brandon, S.E. & Wells, S. (2020) Science Based Interviewing. BookBaby, New York
Urgent issues and prospects at the intersection of culture, memory, and witness interviews: Exploring the challenges for research and practice.
Hope, L., Anakwah, N., Antfolk, J., Brubacher, S. P., Flowe, H., Gabbert, F., Giebels, E., Kanja, W., Korkman, J., Kyo, A., Naka, M., Otgaar, H., Powell, M. B., Selim, H., Skrifvars, J., Sorkpah, I. K., Sowatey, E. A., Steele, L. C., Stevens, L., . . . Wells, S. (2022). Urgent issues and prospects at the intersection of culture, memory, and witness interviews: Exploring the challenges for research and practice. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 27(1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.12202
Evaluating the effectiveness of a 5-day training on science-based methods of interrogation with U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcement investigators
Russano, M. B., Meissner, C. A., Atkinson, D. J., Brandon, S. E., Wells, S., Kleinman, S. M., Ray, D. G., & Jones, M. S. (2024). Evaluating the effectiveness of a 5-day training on science-based methods of interrogation with U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcement investigators. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 30(2), 105–120. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000422
Negotiating in a Terrorist Environment
Wells, S., (2014). Negotiating in a Terrorist Environment. In J. Pearce, (Ed.), Terrorism Case Studies (pp. 144- 167). Oxford: Wiley.
Interviewing in criminal and intelligence-gathering contexts: Applying science
Wells, S., & Brandon, S. (2018) Interviewing in criminal and intelligence-gathering contexts: Applying science. International Journal of Forensic Medicine. 17(4) DOI:10.1080/14999013.2018.1536090
Crisis Negotiation: From Suicide to Terrorism Intervention
Wells, S., Taylor P., & Giebels, E. (2013). Crisis Negotiation: From Suicide to Terrorism Intervention. In M. Olekalns & W. Adair (Eds.), Handbook of Negotiation Research (pp.473-498). Melbourne AU: Elgar, Edwards Publishing
The National Crime Faculty and Offender Profiling
Wells S., & West A. (1998) The National Crime Faculty and Offender Profiling, pp 113-124, in Methods of Case Analysis: An International Symposium. Bundeskriminalamt. Vol. 38.2,Wiesbaden 1998.
Articles
Academic Publications
Enhancing Practise Through Science
Brandon, S., Arthur,J., Ray, D., Meissner, C., Russano, M., Wells, S. & Kleinman, S. (2018). Enhancing Practise Through Science. Manuscript submitted for Publication.
Science-based interviewing: Information elicitation
Brandon, S. E., Wells, S., & Seale, C. (2017). Science-based interviewing: Information elicitation. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 15. DOI:10.1002/jip.1496
Commonalities and complementarities among the Cognitive Interview, ORBIT, the Cylinder Model, and Methods of Detecting Deception: Towards a Theory of Interrogation
Brandon, S. E., & Wells, S. (2019). Commonalities and complementarities among the Cognitive Interview, ORBIT, the Cylinder Model, and Methods of Detecting Deception: Towards a Theory of Interrogation. In J. Dickinson, N. Scriber Compo, R. Carol, M. McCauley & B. Schwartz (Eds.), Evidence-Based Investigative Interviewing. Routledge: New York, NY.
Science Based Interviewing
Brandon, S.E. & Wells, S. (2020) Science Based Interviewing. BookBaby, New York
Urgent issues and prospects at the intersection of culture, memory, and witness interviews: Exploring the challenges for research and practice.
Hope, L., Anakwah, N., Antfolk, J., Brubacher, S. P., Flowe, H., Gabbert, F., Giebels, E., Kanja, W., Korkman, J., Kyo, A., Naka, M., Otgaar, H., Powell, M. B., Selim, H., Skrifvars, J., Sorkpah, I. K., Sowatey, E. A., Steele, L. C., Stevens, L., . . . Wells, S. (2022). Urgent issues and prospects at the intersection of culture, memory, and witness interviews: Exploring the challenges for research and practice. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 27(1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.12202
Evaluating the effectiveness of a 5-day training on science-based methods of interrogation with U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcement investigators
Russano, M. B., Meissner, C. A., Atkinson, D. J., Brandon, S. E., Wells, S., Kleinman, S. M., Ray, D. G., & Jones, M. S. (2024). Evaluating the effectiveness of a 5-day training on science-based methods of interrogation with U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcement investigators. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 30(2), 105–120. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000422
Negotiating in a Terrorist Environment
Wells, S., (2014). Negotiating in a Terrorist Environment. In J. Pearce, (Ed.), Terrorism Case Studies (pp. 144- 167). Oxford: Wiley.
Interviewing in criminal and intelligence-gathering contexts: Applying science
Wells, S., & Brandon, S. (2018) Interviewing in criminal and intelligence-gathering contexts: Applying science. International Journal of Forensic Medicine. 17(4) DOI:10.1080/14999013.2018.1536090
Crisis Negotiation: From Suicide to Terrorism Intervention
Wells, S., Taylor P., & Giebels, E. (2013). Crisis Negotiation: From Suicide to Terrorism Intervention. In M. Olekalns & W. Adair (Eds.), Handbook of Negotiation Research (pp.473-498). Melbourne AU: Elgar, Edwards Publishing
The National Crime Faculty and Offender Profiling
Wells S., & West A. (1998) The National Crime Faculty and Offender Profiling, pp 113-124, in Methods of Case Analysis: An International Symposium. Bundeskriminalamt. Vol. 38.2,Wiesbaden 1998.