Policy background Polygraph testing
Polygraph examinations have been used in the management of sexual offenders on licence since January 2013 by the National Probation Service (NPS) in England and Wales. Initially, this was as a successful pilot and it was subsequently rolled out as a national programme. Examinations are carried out by qualified Probation Officers who have been trained as accredited examiners and who are also experienced in managing high risk offenders. Polygraph examinations are used to monitor compliance with other licence conditions; the information obtained during testing is used by Probation offender managers to refine and improve risk management plans. This Act will enable it to be extended for use with terrorist offenders on licence in England and Wales, and with TPIM subjects in a consistent manner in all jurisdictions of the UK. Equivalent provision for polygraph testing as part of a licence condition is not required in Scotland and Northern Ireland as existing licence condition setting powers could be used to specify polygraph testing in a licence condition in those jurisdictions.