March 20, 2023 5:42 AM EDT
A lie detector test, or polygraph test, is not legally admissible in a court of law in the United Kingdom. However, that does not mean the results of such a test cannot be used by the criminal justice system. In certain circumstances, the results of a lie detector test may be used as evidence in a criminal investigation, or as part of a pre-sentence assessment report. In many cases, the results of a lie detector test can be persuasive in convincing a suspect to enter a plea of guilty or to provide a confession. Additionally, the results of a lie detector test may be used in family law cases, in particular when determining custody or access arrangements. However, the results of a lie detector test must always be treated with caution and should not be relied upon as an unquestionable truth.