DIGITAL OR ELECTRONIC RECORDING
Many investigators now use digital and or micro cassette recorders as a means of making notes. Experience has shown that they have both advantages and disadvantages over traditional hand-written notes.
ADVANTAGES
- Able to record a greater quantity of information
- Can record at the time more often than later
- Easier to record and observe at the same time
- Accuracy is less likely to be questioned
DISADVANTAGES
- Harder to locate specific references at a later time
- Sometimes difficult to detect if equipment malfunctions
- Unable to edit if the investigator uses profanities
- More expensive - especially if transcripts are necessary
NOTE:
Legally, using a tape recorder to make notes is acceptable.
Nevertheless, recording the speech of other people may not be. In most jurisdictions the covert recording of another person's voice is either strictly illegal or subject to stringent legal requirements. Unless an Investigator has legitimate, lawful authority they should not record the speech of another person unless they have that person's express consent (in writing or on tape).
This resource is kindly provided by Wayne Carney of SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP AUSTRALIA.