Lie Detection
Tired of stock losses/crime/theft and dishonest people in your business? We can make the difference.
Employees get away with a lot and if not properly managed, will be losing money unnecessarily.
Polygraph testing is a very effective tool. Tests are used to verify the truth and detect deceit in individuals.
The use of employee polygraph tests provides you with effective, defensive means to protect yourself at an early and critical stage being when you are planning to employ a new person. Polygraph services can also be used to maintain your employee by regular testing to make sure that they stay truthful also to detect deception or truth with
Forensic psychophysiology is based on the principle that an individual’s fear of detection of deception causes physiological changes. These changes are recorded and evaluated by a qualified Forensic Psycho- Physiologist and the result made known to the examinee and client. We ensure that each innocent examinee has the opportunity to be regarded as such and every deceptive element exposed.
The techniques utilized and interview methodology applied allows us to clearly differentiate between Innocent and Being Deceptive about the issue on hand. We have several precautions in place both internally and externally to ensure that the result we provide is accurate and has been validated.
How does it work?
A Misconception about polygraph does exist among certain individuals, which needs to be addressed.
It is important to understand what a polygraph examination entails:
- A polygraph instrument will collect physiological data from at least 3 systems in the human body.
- A typical polygraph examination will include:
1. A period referred to as a pre-test
2. A chart collection phase
3. A test data analysis phase
In the pre-test, the polygraph examiner will complete required paperwork and talk with the examinee about the test. During this period, the examiner will discuss the questions to be asked and familiarize the examinee with the testing procedure.
During the chart collection phase, the examiner will administer and collect a number of polygraph charts.
Following this, the examiner will analyze the charts and render an opinion as to the truthfulness of the person taking the test.
Periodic/Screening Examinations
Periodic polygraph examinations is used as a preventative measure. It reduces theft and fraud by identifying compromised individuals during periodic screening. This is effective in industries with large volumes of stock. Having regular examinations in such a setting, offers a psychological shield against theft, as employees know they will be subjected to routine testing, say every 6 months or period you require for testing . Staff would also then be less likely to fall victim to criminal syndicates looking for a soft target. Companies are enforcing the practice of doing routine polygraph tests periodically within the company.
Specific Polygraph Examinations
This type of Polygraph Examination is a case/issue specific examination, that is aimed at identifying the deceptive party and clearing the innocent.
This can be used in any type of scenario where the aim is to determine the involvement of individuals in a specific incident like, Theft, Fraud, use of drugs and sex offences like infidelity.
NiB's (National Investigations Bureau) expertise in all aspects of polygraph and lie detection services are available during investigations regarding Company theft, pre-employment screening etc.
Our Polygraph and Lie Detection Services are available to:
- Companies and Corporations under the restrictions and limitations of relevant legislation if any.
- Marriage and family counselors to alleviate suspicion and prove innocence.
- Law Enforcement Agencies
- Legal Professionals and Attorneys for civil litigation investigations
- Private citizens in matters not involving the legal or criminal justice system.
- Employers and companies on issues of employee theft.
Our advanced computerised polygraph system is reported to be close to 100% accurate.
There is no legislation in South Africa at this point to control the use of Lie Detector Testing in disputes relating to employment relationships and results in some cases have even been accepted by the CCMA.
NIB believe that in the past polygraph testing was seen as a method of rooting out culprits during in-house investigations into theft, fraud etc. However, employers are now taking proactive rather than reactive routes and considering pre-employment polygraphs, to screen out potential new employees.
Prevention is easier and far cheaper than solving a problem further down the line.
Pre-employment polygraph testing is particularly useful in the banking, security, insurance, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, logistics and transport sectors. Entertainment venues - including casinos that test staff.
Theo Louwrens, NiB's qualified and experienced polygraph examiner, says many employees are dismissed for dishonest acts as a result of disciplinary action, most companies don't prosecute. This means they are not blacklisted and don't have criminal records, so any checks often come up blank. This is worsened by the fact that a very low percentage of criminal charges actually end in prosecution.
Companies tend to believe that theft, fraud and corruption won't affect them. Syndicates often infiltrate organisations by either arranging a syndicate member to be employed there, or more often, buying over a current employee who might have a clean track record up to that point. Intelligence is everything and criminals share information. It shows that a high percentage of company crime is perpetrated by employees or in collusion with employees.
Polygraph tests don't just uncover major crimes. They often pick up drinking and drug related problems as well as petty offences. The most important thing to remember is that, if an individual has stolen once, and left unchecked, this could lead to an employee committing more serious offences in the longer term
Polygraph tests are completely voluntary and an applicant must give written consent. Each candidate is prepared and shown how the polygraph equipment works, screened for health issues and questions are discussed upfront in order to dispel nervousness.