The professional body setting and upholding standards, ethics and scientific rigour for polygraph examination across the United Kingdom.
BPS Code of Ethics Binding on all members
Setting and upholding the professional, ethical and scientific standards for polygraph examination in the United Kingdom.British Polygraph Society — polygraph.org.uk
The Constitution, Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice — eleven governing documents binding on members of the Society, published in full.
Explore Standards 02The UK statutory framework — the Offender Management Act 2007 (ss.28–30) and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 — under which mandatory polygraph testing is used as a licence condition in England and Wales.
View Legislation 03BPS membership provides professional standing, APA CE credits recognised in the UK, a verified directory listing, and access to all published standards.
Join the Society 04Peer-reviewed research, position papers and an evidence base supporting polygraph as a validated instrument in criminal justice and professional settings.
Research LibraryBPS membership demonstrates your commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards in UK polygraph practice. Whether you conduct PCSOT, pre-employment or private examinations, BPS membership signals rigour to commissioners and clients.
Members gain a verified public directory listing, the right to use the "MBPS" or "SMBPS" post-nominal, access to all BPS governing documents, and continuing education that meets the Society's 30-hour biennial CPD requirement.
Two Acts of Parliament provide the statutory basis for mandatory polygraph testing of specified offender categories in England and Wales. Administration sits with HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
Introduced mandatory polygraph testing as a licence condition for sex offenders released from custody. Established the first statutory basis for polygraph use in UK criminal justice, with HMPPS overseeing administration.
Read more Act of Parliament — 2021Extended mandatory polygraph testing to domestic abuse perpetrators on licence, significantly broadening the legal scope of polygraph use and creating additional demand for qualified, BPS-standard examiners.
Read moreThe constituting document of the Society — objects, powers, membership classes, the Management Committee, general meetings, finance, and governing law.
The minimum standards of professional conduct required of every member — restrictions on examinations, fees, reporting, advertising, confidentiality, and dual relationships.
Technical standards for examinations — instrumentation, pretest practices, validated techniques, record retention, data analysis, and quality control.
Every examiner in our directory is APA certified and bound by the BPS Code of Ethics — giving individuals, organisations and statutory bodies confidence in their choice of practitioner.
All listed examiners are APA certified and bound by the BPS Code of Ethics. Listing is admin-approved.
Advanced training and APA-approved CE credits for practising examiners, delivered in the United Kingdom. Hosted in partnership with polygraphtraining.uk.
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Read articleEvery examiner listed in the BPS directory holds current American Polygraph Association certification, ensuring UK practitioners meet the recognised international standard for polygraph training and competence.