voluntary questioning; voluntary interview
A police procedure where a person voluntarily agrees to be questioned, without arrest or compulsion. Common in legal and news contexts.
The police conducted a voluntary interview with the suspect.
Whether to comply with voluntary questioning is up to the individual.
事情聴取 is a broader term for police questioning or hearing someone's account, not necessarily voluntary. 任意聴取 specifically emphasizes the voluntary nature.
逮捕 means arrest, which is compulsory. 任意聴取 is non-compulsory and does not involve arrest.
Compound of 任意 (voluntary) and 聴取 (hearing, listening). A modern legal term.