Welcome to the British Polygraph Society
The UK's leading professional body for forensic psychophysiology, providing expert guidance on credibility assessment to members, professionals, and the public.
Our Commitment to Professional Standards
Rigorous Training
BPS members complete hundreds of hours of coursework at internationally accredited institutions, ensuring comprehensive understanding of psychophysiology and validated methodologies.
Ethical Practice
All members adhere to our strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, maintaining confidentiality, professionalism, and integrity in all examinations.
Scientific Rigour
Our standards ensure examinations are grounded in research-based psychophysiological principles, not unvalidated automated systems or minimal training.
Why BPS Membership Matters
In an era when brief online courses offer "polygraph certification" and automated systems claim to replace examiner expertise, BPS membership provides crucial differentiation. Our accreditation signifies months of intensive training, ongoing professional development, peer review and accountability, scientific grounding, and ethical commitment—not merely commercial operation.
Protecting the Public Interest
The BPS exists to protect clients seeking credibility assessment services. In a field where minimal regulation creates opportunities for exploitation, professional self-regulation becomes essential.
BPS examiners possess comprehensive understanding of the psychophysiological principles underlying polygraph examination. This includes knowledge of:
- Cardiovascular responses to psychological stress
- Respiratory pattern changes during deception
- Electrodermal activity and its relationship to emotional states
- Individual physiological variations and how to account for them
- The limitations and capabilities of psychophysiological measurement
Our members employ only validated questioning techniques developed through decades of empirical research, including:
- Control Question Technique (CQT)
- Zone Comparison Technique (ZCT)
- Directed Lie Comparison
- Properly structured relevant and comparison questions
These methods have been extensively tested in both laboratory and field settings, demonstrating reliability when administered by properly trained examiners.
BPS members maintain realistic understanding of polygraph capabilities and limitations. We acknowledge that:
- No credibility assessment technique achieves 100% accuracy
- Polygraph is one investigative tool among many, not a definitive answer
- Certain conditions and circumstances may affect examination validity
- Results require interpretation within appropriate context
- Some cases are not suitable for polygraph examination
This honesty distinguishes professional practice from exploitative marketing.
BPS members prioritise ethical conduct even when facing commercial pressure to deliver predetermined outcomes. This means:
- Declining cases where examination is inappropriate
- Refusing to guarantee specific results
- Maintaining objectivity regardless of who is paying
- Protecting examinee rights and welfare
- Providing honest assessments even when unwelcome
Unlike isolated practitioners, BPS members remain accountable to professional oversight through:
- Peer review of examination quality
- Adherence to Code of Ethics with disciplinary consequences
- Continuing education requirements
- Regular assessment of professional competence
- Connection to broader professional community
This accountability structure protects both clients and the integrity of the profession.
Membership Requirements
Comprehensive Training
Complete extensive coursework at accredited institutions recognised internationally for polygraph education, covering psychophysiology, validated questioning techniques, instrumentation, countermeasure detection, and professional ethics.
Code of Ethics Adherence
Adhere to our Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice without exception, maintaining strict confidentiality and professional conduct in all examinations.
Continuing Education
Engage in ongoing professional development, including advanced training and annual professional reviews to stay current with evolving methodologies and research.
Peer Review
Submit to peer review and quality assurance processes, ensuring examination quality meets established professional standards.
Substantial Foundation
BPS examiners complete hundreds of hours of coursework—not brief online videos—ensuring competent, scientifically grounded practice that protects public interest.
What BPS Accreditation Signifies
Months of intensive training, not hours of online videos • Ongoing professional development, not static credentials from years past • Peer review and accountability, not isolated practice without oversight • Scientific grounding, not reliance on proprietary "black box" algorithms • Ethical commitment, not merely commercial operation
Our Mission
The British Polygraph Society advances forensic psychophysiology through commitment to excellence, scientific integrity, and public protection.
Professional Excellence
Establishing and maintaining rigorous standards for ethical polygraph practice in the UK.
Continuous Development
Providing training, resources, and professional growth opportunities that keep members aligned with scientific advancements.
Public Protection
Ensuring examinations are conducted with transparency, accuracy, and integrity by properly qualified professionals.
Collaborative Practice
Working with legal professionals, law enforcement, and stakeholders to promote responsible polygraph use.
Scientific Advancement
Contributing to research in psychophysiological deception detection, improving methods through evidence-based practice.
International Standards
Partnering with global associations to align UK practice with international best practices whilst respecting regional contexts.
For the Public
Choosing a Qualified Examiner
If you're considering polygraph services, BPS membership offers important assurance. Our examiners have demonstrated competence, maintain professional standards, and remain accountable to established ethical guidelines.
Questions to Ask Potential Examiners
Where did you receive your polygraph training? How many hours of coursework did you complete? What professional associations are you a member of? Do you engage in continuing education? What are your accreditations? How long have you been practising?
Warning Signs of Inadequate Training
Certification completed in hours or days • Training conducted entirely online • No membership in recognised professional associations • Inability to explain psychophysiological principles • Guarantees of specific results • Reliance solely on automated "black box" systems
What to Expect from BPS Members
Months of intensive training at accredited institutions • Clear explanation of the process and limitations • Professional conduct and confidentiality • Use of validated questioning techniques • Honest assessment of whether examination is appropriate • Ongoing professional development and peer review
For Professionals
The BPS welcomes qualified examiners committed to maintaining the highest professional standards. Our community provides peer support, ongoing education, quality assurance, and connection to the broader international polygraph profession.
Moving Forward
The British Polygraph Society remains committed to advancing credibility assessment as a scientifically grounded, ethically conducted, professionally regulated discipline. Through rigorous standards, ongoing education, and accountability to both members and the public, we work to ensure that polygraph services in the UK reflect the expertise and integrity clients deserve.
The British Polygraph Society (BPS) is an independent professional association in the UK, committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in polygraph science and testing.
Our Society brings together accredited polygraph examiners, specialists in deception detection, and individuals with a professional interest in truth verification.
Every member is dedicated to conducting accurate and reliable polygraph examinations while maintaining strict ethical, professional, and moral standards. As the only UK association providing approved advanced training, the BPS ensures its members remain leaders at the forefront of the industry.