Time-Critical Questioning: Enhancing Rapid Information Gathering in High-Pressure Situations

Recent advancements in communication strategies have led to the development of the Time Critical Questioning (TCQ) protocol, a structured approach designed to improve the speed and accuracy of information collection during urgent, high-stakes scenarios such as natural disasters, terror attacks, or hostage situations. Created by Professor Lorraine Hope and her team at the University of Portsmouth, in cooperation with the UK's Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST), this method aims to optimize interactions where every second counts.

The TCQ protocol helps emergency responders and professionals quickly gather vital details from witnesses, victims, or individuals involved in critical incidents. It introduces a concise framework called I-RELATE, which guides the conversation through Introductions, Roles, Expectations, Line-up of goals, Agenda, Topic cues, and Explanation, establishing a clear structure for the interaction.

Unlike traditional open-ended questioning, TCQ balances structure and flexibility, minimizing information overload and reducing the risk of omitting crucial details. Its design allows interviewers to focus on relevant information efficiently without requiring extensive training or expertise.

Studies demonstrate that interviews conducted with the TCQ approach yield more accurate and useful details earlier in the conversation. For instance, in a simulated environment at the Portsmouth escape room, participants interviewed using TCQ provided 97% accurate information, ten percentage points higher than the conventional method. Similarly, in a national counter-terrorism exercise, law enforcement personnel reported that the protocol helped maintain focus and organize their thoughts during high-pressure interviews.

Chief Superintendent Claire Finlay of Counter Terrorism South East praised TCQ’s operational utility, describing it as an "innovative solution" that greatly enhances information extraction when both parties face stress and time constraints. While initially designed for law enforcement and emergency response, the principles of TCQ have promising applications in health care, cybersecurity, and industrial safety, where rapid, precise communication is vital.

The recent research findings are published in Scientific Reports (2025), emphasizing the protocol’s potential to reshape information gathering practices in various urgent contexts. Continual exploration and adaptation of TCQ could significantly impact how professionals handle critical conversations, ultimately saving more lives and improving decision-making efficiency during emergencies.