A lie detector test in Basingstoke could have helped police this week when a Met Detective was arrested upon suspicion of grooming a 13 year old girl. New laws are making sex offenders take regular lie detector tests upon their release. The new law means early detection of grooming, and suspects. Could having a lie detector test at interrogation stage have helped this case?
Why a lie detector test could have helped the case
Francois Olwage, a detective constable working within the Met’s specialist operations, appeared in Winchester Crown Court via video-link on Friday (November 19). The hearing took place in Hampshire where he entered his pleas to four separate charges. The 51-year-old was arrested in Basingstoke after reportedly being in communication with a profile of a 13-year-old girl. The profile was part of an undercover operation by Hertfordshire Police.
The defendant, of Wornham Avenue, Stevenage pleaded not guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child. He also pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity. Olwage also entered not guilty pleas to arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. The final denial was of meeting a girl under the age of 16 following grooming.
Prosecutors say the alleged offences occurred between October 14 and 29 this year. Judge Susan Evans QC ordered Olwage to remain in custody. AÂ trial will take place on April 11 next year, with a further pre-trial hearing scheduled for March 18.
What does this mean for lie detector tests?
Police forces nationwide are part of a scheme to receive extra equipment and training in lie detector tests. Now that a recent case of sex offender has risen within the Police, charities dealing with child abuse are in uproar. The case means Police forces are pushing even harder to have additional funding. Therefore, funding would enable them to carry out lie detector tests on suspects and charged offenders.
For the latest news on Olwage’s case see the Hampshire News website: https://www.hampshirelive.news
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