Field reflections from training Finnish asylum officials

The article examines the realities of asylum decision-making, focusing on the central role of interviews in assessing applicants’ claims when documentary evidence is often limited. Drawing on a training programme in investigative interviewing and legal psychology developed for asylum officials in Finland, the authors highlight both the benefits of evidence-based training and the practical challenges officials face in their daily work. During the training, officials identified a range of organisational constraints and pressures that can negatively affect interview quality and increase work-related stress. These include time limitations, structural demands, and the complexity of evaluating credibility based primarily on oral testimony. The study brings these practitioner perspectives into dialogue with existing research, an area that has received limited attention so far. The article concludes that while targeted training can significantly improve skills and knowledge, broader organisational factors must also be addressed to ensure fair and effective asylum procedures. It offers recommendations for both future research and practice, emphasising the need to better support officials in conducting high-quality, evidence-based interviews.

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