Do they still use lie detectors?

[mackthepony]

Haven't heard these mentioned in a while? Are they still used in investigations?

I think they've been proven unreliable at best but some places still use them?

Jeremy Kyle used to quote them as being 96% accurate. Sounds good until you realise that means 1 in 25 times are unreliable which is actually pretty poor and not something I would trust. If I was being investigated for anything I would refuse to do one.

I've always wondered as well since they are supposed to record your physiological responses to telling lies, what about people who don't feel guilt or the heart rate spike of adrenaline, sweat more etc etc. Not super accurate.

I'd fail even if they asked 'is your name Hatthatwearsyou?' because I'm anxiety riddled anyway, there'd be no clear baseline with someone like me I think.

They’ve never been used by U.K. police - too unreliable. They’re a US/ chat show thing.

What investigations are you talking about? UK police don’t use them

uk police can't use as evidence. Basically they measure stress, some people are super stressed by being in the police station getting questioned, other people can murder a dozen people and pass the test no problem. You can train yourself to pass the detector. Some police forces parents and shows like Jeremy Kyle act like they're waaay more accurate than they are as a kind of trick / mind game to con confessions out of people (we know you're lying sort of thing).

The base line questions help but not that as much as the movies imply

uk police can't use as evidence

Nor in the US. They're an investigative tool only.

In my psychology degree they were considered so unreliable as to be a gimmicky novelty.
Pretty much up there with tarot cards and cold reading.
They are and have never been used in criminal investigations.

I now soo want to see the scene in the hard hitting detective show where they 'break' a suspect with tarot cards or tea leaves.

@howdoesatoastermaketoast 😆😆😆
That would be ace!!

Well as both Gary Ridgeway and Ted Bundy both passed lie detector tests I'd say bring on the tea leaves

In the uk they can't be used as evidence in court so fairly pointless

This thread reminded me of the time an immigration officer asked me where i lived. Without missing a beat and with absolute conviction i said the name of the town i lived in 20 years ago. He carried on but i became enveloped in a fog of confusion and not knowing what to do. I felt like an idiot when i interrupted him to tell him where i actually lived. Another time, also at immigration, i was asked the name of uni where i was studying. I could not for the life of me remember. I think it would be funny to take a lie detector test. I'm certain there would be some funny results.

Thanks everyone

I'd watch that show too!

Police officer here

They have been used in the uk but are not admissible in court as they are not evidential.

We have used them in interviews with child sex offenders to try and ascertain what their proclivity is and if they are likely to pose further risk .