Information for members of the public who are considering, or have been asked to take, a polygraph examination in the United Kingdom.
The British Polygraph Society maintains a public directory of its members. Listing in the directory confirms that the examiner is a current member of the Society in good standing, has met the Society's admission criteria, and is bound by the BPS Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Not all polygraph examiners practising in the United Kingdom are members of the Society. Membership of the BPS is voluntary. If an examiner is not listed, you may wish to ask them whether they are a member, and on what professional basis they offer the service.
BPS Verified
Listed Examiner
A validated polygraph examination has three distinct phases — pretest, in-test, and post-test. Whatever professional body the examiner belongs to (if any), they must explain the process to you and obtain your informed written consent before any recording begins; this is a requirement of general law, not only of the Society's Standards of Practice. BPS members are additionally bound by the Society's Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
The examiner explains the process, obtains your written consent, reviews your medical and psychological suitability, and reviews every test question with you in advance.
You are connected to the polygraph instrumentation. Physiological responses are recorded while the previously reviewed questions are asked in a defined order.
The examiner may give you an opportunity to explain observed responses, and reports a categorical result together with a margin of uncertainty.
Where a polygraph examination is conducted by a BPS member in the United Kingdom, the examiner is required by the Society's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice to:
Mandatory testing under a UK statutory licence condition (for example, under the Offender Management Act 2007) is administered by HM Prison and Probation Service and is governed by separate statutory rules.
If you believe a BPS member has breached the Code of Ethics, you may submit a written complaint under the Society's Regulations (Annexure A).
Regulations, Annexure A →What a polygraph examination is, the three phases of an examination, the methods used, and what the result means.
Read the explanation →Consent, confidentiality, data protection, and answers to common questions about polygraph examinations in the UK.
Read the FAQ →