Lie detector tests

[lost and heartbroken]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone could tell me why we don't use a lie detector test in the UK, especially regarding rape when it is one persons word against another.

[Rights Fighter]

E Petition for lie detectors

Please sign this Government e-Petition

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PolygraphTest/

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to give a defendant in a criminal case the right to have both themselves AND their accuser made the subject of a lie detector (polygraph) test and for the defendant to be allowed to lawfully use the results of those tests in evidence at any trial.

More details from petition creator

At present, one person can make a false allegation against another and as long as a jury can be convinced, the person being falsely accused can be wrongly convicted. By giving defendants the right to require that they AND their accuser be subject to a lie detector test, this would reduce the number of people prepared to make false allegations in the first place (as they will fear being found out) and, where cases continue to trial, will enable the jury to make a more informed decision. (Polygraph tests, while certainly not perfect, are clearly considered reliable enough to be used on some ex-prisoners released on licence to see if they are likely to commit an offence.) The Government states that defendants must be considered 'innocent until proven guilty' - if that really is the case then defendants must be afforded the opportunity to prove (beyond reasonable doubt) that they are telling the truth and that their accuser is lying - often that is their only defence when it's a case of one person's word against another.
Petition set by SAFARI Editor.

It won't get anywhere as these petitions relating to lie detectors have been sent in since the e-Petitions began, however the more we protest the more likely that somebody somewhere will eventually take notice!

It is interesting that they are now using lie detector machines in parole applications and post parole for sex offenders to check they are not re-offending! So they are ok and reliable enough for that but not for pre-trial purposes!!

If you need any in-depth specialist support please join the private forum at www.pafaa.org.uk

[lost and heartbroken]

Thank you for that, I hope other people sign this before the deadline and if it saves just one person and their family having to go through everything myself, my partner and our families have been through because of a false allegation it will be worth while.

[webmoo]

Good luck, although, as you say, it's unlikely to do anything!

I have signed it.

[Unregistered]

Thanks webmoo

Got my signature!

[friday]

i dont think lie detectors would necessarily work in all cases, not to mention the fact they are not 100% reliable by any means and given what the victim will be thinking of (ie their rape) they are likely to cause false readings. i was using a polygraph the other day (im a psychology student) which like a lie detector measures galvanic skin response and by merely thinking of what happened to me was able to produce a result which would be consistant to major arousal which is what a lie detector detects. this of course works the other way and people are able to think of other things while hooked up to the machine which will reduce galvanic skin response.

another reason i dont think this would always work is that im not sure all rapists actually believe what they did was rape, even though they know the definition i dont think all rapists see their actions as wrong and some believe they have the right to sex despite being told by the other party that they do not want to. in my case i honestly believe the guy would pass a lie detctor test cos he feels no remorse or guilt for his actions and i dont believe he even sees what he did as wrong.

[Saffron]

that is of course, the major problem with lie detector tests. the subject matter in these cases is so emotive that answering questions will almost certainly elicit a major response. However, the use of them is now being piloted by the parole board before people convicted of sex offences are granted parole. If they are good enough for this, then why not court as well? I know my husband was prepared to take one if it could have helped prove his innocence.

[Unregistered]

Never give up.

I have tryed so hard to sign the petition,can never find the e.mail, to click Please,help?. The goverment has to do something to stop these girls doing this to you men. The true rape victims don't stand a chance , if these girls can keep crying rape .Our men deserve the right to be able to have this test , and give the girls this test so then at least may be if this is put to them they might think twice before ruining our mens life, and putting so many in prison for years of suffering and hartache, what is so hard is they say the men are in denial, my answer to this is NO THEY ARE SAYING PLEASE HELP US WE ARE INNOCENT.Ias a mother of a young man serving ,Iwill never ever give up the fight to clear his name, as they sayno stone will ever be left unturned,I WILL NEVER EVER GIVE UP.Ihave now raised enough money to go private, and with the new evidence I have after 3 very long years for my son and his family,will now hopefully prove my sons innocence. God bless all the men and boys serving and all the family's Please NEVER EVER GIVE UP THE FIGHT FOR TRUTH.

[Rights Fighter]

Hi

You put your name in the first box, put your email address in the next box and then type it in again into the next box where it tells you to do it. Double check to make sure that you've typed it both times correctly.

Type in your address and post code in the relevant boxes.

Click the "sign" icon.

A few minutes later check your email address that you put into the petition. You receive and email shortly afterwards.

Open the email and you sill see a link. Click that and it should take you to the page where the petition is and you should see your name at the bottom of the petition.

Thank you for your interest.

If you need some advice on appealing the conviction please email me at rightsfighter@pafaa.org.uk

Kind regards