relationship of trust and rapport. The first interactions with the victims/witnesses should revolve around obtaining basic information and the general scope of their knowledge of relevant events.138 A more in-depth interview can then be scheduled for a later date if needed. A careful consideration of how best to engage with the victim/witness will benefit the quality of the account taken. Interviewers should:  Obtain informed consent  Introduce themselves, their affiliation and their professional experience  Introduce everyone present, their affiliation and their reason why they are there  Explain the purpose of the interview  Address any concerns of the interviewee  Discuss how long the interview will be and that they can ask for breaks at any time  Discuss whether/how to record the interview  Give the person power to agree/disagree, answer/not answer, ask questions or have information repeated It is important to discuss whether and how the interview will be recorded, for instance in writing, audio or video recording. Taking a record of the interview is important not only to ensure that an accurate account is given of the interviewee’s statement but also to protect the interviewer from accusations of wrongful conduct, such as duress upon the interviewee. Ensure that the victim/witness understands these considerations, understands what safety precautions are in place with regard to securing the record. However, always ask permission to record and do not proceed if permission is denied. If the interviewee refuses recording the conversation, try to at least get consent to record the phase that relates to the obtaining of informed consent from the interviewee. 138 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Anti-human Trafficking manual for criminal justice practitioners, module 8: Interviewing victims of trafficking in persons who are potential witnesses, 27 (2009), available at http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/TIP_module8_Ebook.pdf. 98