Lie detectors to catch out benefit cheats

[Enuff]

Fifteen councils across Britain are to be offered lie detectors to help catch out benefit cheats who cost taxpayers up to £400m a year.

Trials of the system, which analyses speech patterns, have made savings of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Seven councils have tested the technology, which is already used by the insurance industry to combat fraud.

Critics say genuine claimants may be put off applying for help for fear of being wrongly labelled a fraudster.

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[Russ B]

Just how accurate are lie detectors anyway? Just because someone fails a test isn't proof they're being being dishonest surely? What if they're just really nervous?

[Gavin]

I don't think its legally binding, so it will probably mean that if you fail you'd be subjected to extra scrutiny. Says that here more-or-less:

Benefits staff are then able to ask for further evidence to support any suspicious claims.

The upside is that it filters out people quicker and allows them to target people they think is cheating (current methods like surveilance are too expensive and time-consuming). The downside is that a confidence trickster (the kind pf person that probably would be a benefit cheat) would be able subjected to less scrutiny because he would be able to deceive the machine.

[Enuff]

I agree with what the guy from the TUC said...

Richard Exell, of the TUC, said: "Someone who's a practised liar, who's deliberately defrauding the system, may very well be able to beat equipment like this, whereas someone who's scrupulously honest may actually be scared off claiming a benefit they're entitled to."

Same thing goes for when claiming insurance.

Aren't they just taking advantage of honest peoples paranoia? They'll do anything to save money, and to reduce those figures.

[Jefferson T]

It wouldn't put me off calling, but I often get nervous and frustrated when I have to speak to these people so god only knows what these machines would make of me.

[Gavin]

Originally Posted by Jefferson T

It wouldn't put me off calling, but I often get nervous and frustrated when I have to speak to these people so god only knows what these machines would make of me.

Indeed. Luckily (!) you have an easily-verifiable complaint, so noone could dispute it. But I should imagine if you had something not so verifiable such as migraines or a pain in the leg, it might not be so verifiable.

[RizzyKing]

I am sure i read somewhere that in the US polygraphs were no longer used in a whole number of states after it was found they were significantly lower then 96% effective as claimed by practitioners in the UK. End of the day these machines are not very good and in this context are completely stupid but they are being used on benefit claimants so i am sure the majority will support it.

[Chrysalis]

Lie detectors are not considered reliable enough for courts, in addition the government is using lie detectors on innocent people. As for saving money I expect there is vast amounts of benefits not paid out either due to people entitled not claiming or been falsely turned down for them so its swings and roundabouts. They should just accept there is a welfare bill and leave it be.

[murfitUK]

I wouldn't mind the government using it on benefit claimants if, and only if, it was also used on MPs when they claim their expenses. After all, it is public money we're talking about.

[RizzyKing]

If they are that keen to save a few hundred million i have another way they can do it bring our people back from Iraq and do not get involved in anymore conflicts because of a damn lie.

[Enuff]

I agree, get our forces back home. Their country needs them.