From Transparency to Trust: Mandatory Audiovisual Recording as a Measure for Ethical Interrogations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

This research analyses the disparity between formal legislative safeguards and standard police practices in the context of interrogation methods in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even though there are rules that say interrogations should be voluntary and that force should not be used, police still use methods that pressure suspects, rely on confessions, and do not keep proper records, according to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or This paper contends that the most urgent and quantifiable reform is the requirement for suspect interrogations to be recorded on video, in alignment with international standards, specifically the Méndez Principles. Implementing rights such as the presumption of innocence and delivering an impartial and verifiable record of police conduct protects both suspects and investigators. The implementation of evidence-based investigative questioning techniques, as evidenced by experiences from England and Wales, Spain, and the Netherlands, demonstrates that recording enhances professionalism, accountability, and transparency. The authors conclude that Bosnia and Herzegovina must prioritise audiovisual recordings as a fundamental aspect of reform.