Legal background Licence Conditions: Polygraph
The power to polygraph test offenders on licence in England and Wales was created by the Offender Management Act 2007 ("the 2007 Act"). It applies to persons aged over 18, serving a relevant custodial sentence (defined in section 28 of the 2007 Act) for specified sexual offences.
	Evidence gained from polygraph tests cannot be used in criminal proceedings against a released person, and various provisions for regulating polygraph procedure and administration are controlled by the Secretary of State via the 2007 Act and the Polygraph Rules 2009. The power was piloted in relation to nine police areas by the Offender Management Act 2007 (Commencement No.3) Order 2009 between 19 January 2009 and 31 March 2012. Following this successful pilot, the power to impose mandatory polygraph testing licence conditions on certain sex offenders on licence was commenced on 6th January 2014.