Sex offenders will be made to take lie detector tests as part of their probation conditions on release from prison, the Ministry of Justice has said. Skip related content
Related photos / videos Sex offenders will be made to take lie detector tests The three-year pilot project in the East and West Midlands will aim to establish whether polygraph testing should be rolled out across the country to assist in the management of sex offenders in the community.

About 25 sex offenders have been chosen to take part in the tests, which will begin on Wednesday, and between 350 and 450 are expected to be tested over the next three years. Those who refuse risk being sent back to prison.

Professor Don Grubin, who will carry out the tests, said: “Polygraph testing of sex offenders is part of a package that is aimed at preventing new sex offences from being committed.

“Disclosures made during polygraph examinations, as well as conclusions drawn from passed or failed examinations, allow probation officers and the police to intervene to reduce risk.”

Justice Minister David Hanson said the use of “thorough systems to ensure high level vigilance of serious sexual and violent offenders on their release from prison is vital in our work protecting communities from crime”.

He said the pilot project would be used alongside other systems to manage the offenders.

Each polygraph session will take between 90 minutes and two hours and will consist of three phases.

During the pre-test interview the subject will be told the questions they are to be asked so they can make any relevant disclosures beforehand.

They will then be attached to the polygraph machine and asked the questions. The polygraph operator will interpret the responses and, in a final interview, the subject will be told the results of the test and asked to account for any failures