Netherlands: Moroccans more likely to confess to authoritarian police agent

Netherlands: Moroccans more likely to confess to authoritarian police agent


A study shows that Moroccan suspects deny offenses much more often during interrogation than ethnic Dutch suspects. Investigators in the Gelderland-Zuid department discovered that an interrogation by somebody in a suit radiating authority leads to many more confessions, reports AD.

The police in Gelderland-Zuid did an experiment, in which Moroccan suspects were interrogated in an alternative way. They were taken out of their cell by somebody in casual clothes, but were then interrogated by an investigator in a suit, radiating authority.

The well-dressed interrogated didn't get his coffee by himself, as a deputy did that for him. By use of such tricks, the agent commanded more respect.

Generally, Moroccans suspects are inclined to deny offenses in any case, much more often than ethnic Dutch suspects, according to a study by the University of Groningen. With this new interrogation method, they seem more likely to change over to a confession.

According to the police department, the experiment, implemented with ten suspects, was a big success. Using the normal methods, barely 20% of Moroccans admitted to committing the crime. In the new interrogation method, 80% of the Moroccan suspects confessed.

Source: Elsevier (Dutch)