Few people will forget the terrorist attacks that occurred in London during 2017. As a result Scotland Yard now uses the lie detector test as another investigative tool.

In just 4 months, London sustained 36 fatalities through terrorism last year. As with most cases across the globe, we hear that the terrorists involved are often known to intelligence services. The Manchester Arena attack was no different and no less horrifying.

For whatever reason, whether it is lack of manpower or incompetence, it appears that our security services failed in their duty to protect us. The Prime Minister, following the London attacks, prompted the introduction of lie detector testing and a review of intelligence service procedures.

How does the lie detector test assist Scotland Yard?

The police work with informants and encourage people to come forward with information that may lead to the arrest of criminals. However, in some cases informants can be unreliable especially if they have a personal grievance against an individual. Providing misinformation, purely to get someone into trouble or to mislead, wastes valuable police time and resources.

Polygraphs (lie detector tests) greatly enhance the ability of counter terrorism officers to distinguish truth from lies. Utilised with other methods of detection at their disposal the police are able to validate information received.

Polygraph testing for more crimes

Terrorism is not the only reason that lie detectors have become popular with many UK police forces. Since August 2014, in England and Wales, polygraph testing has been compulsory for serious sex offenders including rapists and paedophiles.

In the first year of utilising the test almost 500 convicted sex offenders were obliged to take the lie detector test as a condition of their release on licence. More than 60 (13%) were returned to prison when results showed they hadn’t complied with the conditions of early release.

Quite often paedophiles that are released prior to the end of their sentences are banned from using the internet without prior consent. One of the questions put to them on a test would be “Have you used the internet since your release?” If they are found to have lied, it is not difficult for the police to examine their computers to verify the result. Several cases have proven the validity of the test when police have found not only internet use, but child pornography images and activity on the offender’s computer. In these circumstances the paedophile will serve the remainder of their sentence in prison in order to prevent further potential crimes.

It’s interesting to note that frequently offenders will confess when told they must take the test.

The Polygraph has proven invaluable to Scotland Yard, as well as many other UK police forces, in a variety of investigations into terrorism, sexual offences and fraud to name a few. It helps detect and prevent crime contributing to the safety of the wider community. It also makes unscrupulous individuals think twice before providing false information to the police!

Do you suspect someone is telling you lie?

Polygraph testing is a service not only available to Scotland Yard and the police generally but also to private individuals.

If you believe someone is lying to you, offer them the opportunity to take a test. It may be you believe your partner is cheating on you, or a friend has stolen from you. The test result will settle the issue one way or the other when combined with other evidence. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help with your specific problem.