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Video-Recorded Interviews in Hesse: Best Practice Example | Mangold
How Hesse deployed more than 50 AV interview recording systems from Mangold International: mobile trolley cases, stationary rooms, Mangold VideoSyncPro, encrypted storage and on-premise AI transcription, so victims and witnesses only have to give their account once.
Audio-Visual Interviewing That Protects Everyone Involved
Victims and witnesses should only have to tell their story once. A state-wide project in Hesse shows how this works in day-to-day policing: interviews are recorded in full, in sound and vision, and the recording can be played back as often as the proceedings require. The technical basis is a set of mobile and stationary AV interview recording systems from Mangold International.
Why Audio-Visual Interviewing Is Becoming More Important
Police interviews have faced new challenges in recent years. Stricter legal requirements, increasing demands for transparent procedures, and the growing importance of traceable evidence mean that traditional written protocols are reaching their limits.
Written interview records are time-consuming, capture non-verbal cues only inadequately, and inevitably contain subjective elements. As a result, repeat interviews are often required, creating extra workload for the police and placing additional strain on witnesses, victims, and suspects, especially those who are particularly vulnerable.
Audio-visual interview systems offer clear advantages: they document the entire course of the interview, make it traceable for everyone involved in the proceedings, and provide a reliable basis for investigators and the judiciary.
Overview of the Project in Hesse
The Witness Protection Act of 1998 first enabled video-recorded testimony. With the introduction of Section 136 (4) of the German Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO) in 2020, the use of video-recorded suspect interviews was significantly expanded. Hesse took up these legal developments early and implemented a state-wide concept for audio-visual interviewing.
At the heart of this modernisation are Mangold International’s mobile and stationary interview systems, developed and integrated in close cooperation with the Hessian State Criminal Police Office and rolled out across the state.
The aim of the project was to capture interviews exactly as they occur, complete with sound, vision and the behaviour of everyone involved, while improving the protection of witnesses, victims, and suspects. Today, the systems are available in police stations throughout Hesse and are used daily in investigations.
Mobile and Stationary Interview Systems by Mangold International
Hesse uses a combination of mobile trolley case systems and fixed installations. This ensures the right setup for every situation.
Mobile Trolley Case Systems
The mobile systems are housed in a robust transport case and can be set up within minutes. They are ideal for:
- Satellite or temporary offices without a permanent interview room
- Ad-hoc interviews in flexible locations
- Special situations, such as psychiatric facilities or correctional institutions
The mobile design makes it possible to conduct audiovisual interviews practically anywhere, without the need for extensive infrastructure.
Stationary Systems
Stationary systems are used in dedicated interview rooms, often equipped with separate control rooms, monitoring screens, intercom (“Voice-of-God”) solutions, and live transmission capabilities.
In cases involving children or other sensitive situations, this technology provides significant benefits: victims can be interviewed in a protected environment without having to face suspects. Live video transmission and indirect questioning reduce emotional stress and improve statement quality.
Technology in Use: Mangold VideoSyncPro
At the core of the system is Mangold VideoSyncPro, software that records sound and vision synchronously and is designed for documentation used as evidence in court.
Key Features of Mangold VideoSyncPro
- Synchronised audio and video recording
- Encrypted data storage
- Time markers and pausing during interviews
- Automated report generation for post-processing
- Detailed user and permissions management to protect sensitive content
- Chat server for communication between interview officers
- Offline AI transcription directly on the system, with no external servers or internet required
The AI transcription converts statements into written text and significantly reduces manual workload, with full data protection, as all processing happens locally on the system.
“Setup is quick and straightforward, and operation is intuitive. Even under difficult conditions, we can reliably record legally compliant statements.” Police Chief Inspector Scholz, Hessian State Criminal Police Office
Implementation, Training and State-Wide Deployment
The rollout in Hesse was carried out in close coordination between the Hessian State Criminal Police Office and Mangold International. In addition to technical integration, particular emphasis was placed on training and user acceptance.
A train-the-trainer concept ensured structured knowledge transfer throughout the organisation and enabled a smooth state-wide implementation. The new workflows were aligned with existing processes from the start.
Today, more than 50 Mangold systems are in use across Hesse, both mobile trolley case systems and stationary solutions in dedicated interview rooms.
The Méndez Principles in Practice
The Méndez Principles describe questioning without coercion, built on rapport, legal safeguards and traceable documentation. A complete audio-visual recording supports the implementation of the Méndez Principles: it shows how an interview was conducted, including logged pauses for confidential legal consultation, and allows the court and the defence to review how the questioning was carried out.
More Traceability, Less Effort
Feedback from the field is clearly positive:
- Complete and traceable documentation of interviews
- Fewer repeat interviews, especially in sensitive cases
- Noticeable reduction in workload thanks to more efficient documentation
- Recordings in which checksums detect any alteration
Audio-visual interviewing protects everyone involved: victims and witnesses, who give their account once instead of again and again; investigators, whose proper conduct can be demonstrated at any time; and the justice system, which sees and hears the account exactly as it was given.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What German law requires video recording of police suspect interviews?
What are the key advantages of AV interview documentation over written police records?
How does Mangold VideoSyncPro ensure legally compliant and data-protection-compliant interview recording?
What is the difference between mobile trolley case AV systems and stationary interview room installations?
Does Mangold VideoSyncPro include offline AI transcription without an internet connection?
How was the state-wide AV interview rollout in Hesse implemented?
Tell it once, not again and again: an audio-visual interview recording system from Mangold International covers the technical, procedural and security-related aspects needed for smooth operation and a recording designed for use as evidence in court.
Mangold Interview Recording
Mangold Interview Recording systems are secure and compliant solutions for recording legal and professional interviews.
