Lie detector 'will protect public' from paedophiles

Sex offenders will be forced to take lie detector tests to assess what danger they pose to the public under a pilot scheme announced yesterday by the Ministry of Justice.

Children's and crime reduction charities welcomed testing of paedophiles and sex offenders. They said it would increase confidence in the probation system. The pilot scheme will begin in April and run for three years.

In trials, nearly 80 per cent of those who volunteered for the 90-minute polygraph test made admissions. But information revealed in a test cannot be used as evidence against an offender.

Martin Narey, chief executive of the charity Barnardo's, said: "This has the potential significantly to increase public confidence that sex offenders are complying with supervision." Paul Cavadino, of the crime reduction charity Nacro, said: "Active sex offenders are often plausible and devious and this method of checking their stories should help to improve the effectiveness of probation supervision."