Police Blog Series # 7 – Don’t Fear the Polygraph

April 29, 2011

I have often been intrigued by lie detector tests.

Before I joined the Police Force I saw lie detectors being used in spy films and TV shows. They also use them in those crazy Jerry Springer type shows. It didn’t occur to me I would need to take one such test to get in to the police.

Of course if you have nothing to hide there is nothing to worry about. Hmmm maybe so, but I was pretty darn nervous when they told me I had to take a polygraph examination. I was prepared for it because a friend of mine took the exam a year earlier. Perhaps that was the problem. I had too much time to think about it.
If you are applying for such a responsible job it makes sense to test candidates on their reliability, suitability and ability to respond to pressure situations.

So far as your suitability is concerned there are checks made on criminal records. If you are clean there really is nothing to worry about.

If I told you to relax that would be absurd, because no one can relax properly in an interview let alone a polygraph test. There are techniques and breathing exercises that will help and can be found on many internet sites. Believe me, I found some that really do help.

That is no lie!