Lie Detector Tests Near Me
Reviewed by Dolos Investigations, full member of the Association of British Investigators | Last updated August 2026
Confidential polygraph testing in Sheffield, Derby and across the North of England. Six-question examinations, a fixed price agreed before you book, and a written report explained to you in person.
Book a lie detector test at our examiner’s office in Derby, or ask us to come to you anywhere across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Our office takes calls seven days a week, 8am to 9pm, and the first conversation is free and confidential. Call 0114 438 7077 and we will tell you honestly whether a polygraph will answer your question.
Completely Confidential
Obligation survives the end of your case
Fixed Price Agreed Upfront
Mileage, parking and travel included
Six Questions, Not Three
More relevant questions than most operators
Open Seven Days a Week
8am to 9pm, investigation line 24/7
Private investigation is unregulated in the UK and there is no licence to hold. These are the checks we have put ourselves through instead.
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Where Can I Get a Lie Detector Test Near Me?
You can take a lie detector test at our examiner’s office in Derby, or we will travel to you anywhere across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Our main office is at 2 President Buildings, Saville Street East, Sheffield, S4 7UQ, and that is where enquiries are handled.
Most people choose whichever is less conspicuous. If you would rather not have a polygraph examination happen in your own home, particularly when the person being tested lives there too, the Derby office is the simpler option. If travelling is the problem, we come to you. Neither choice affects how the examination is run.
Call 0114 438 7077 and we will work out which suits your situation on the first call. That call costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Lie Detector Tests Near Me: Areas We Cover
We carry out lie detector tests across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, from our Sheffield base and our examiner’s Derby office, with national coverage through our own agent network.
Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Our examiner’s office sits in Derby, so this is the shortest drive for most clients here. We also test in Chesterfield, Nottingham, Mansfield and Worksop.
South Yorkshire
Our head office is in Sheffield, and we cover Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley across South Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire
An hour or so up the M1 and M62. We test across West Yorkshire including Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Huddersfield.
East and North Yorkshire
We travel to Hull and York, and across East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.
Somewhere not on the list? Ask. We have agents nationally. If we cannot help, we will say so rather than sending someone on a long drive at your expense. You can see every area we cover on our locations page.
Ready to Find Out Where You Stand?
One free phone call, no obligation, and a straight answer about whether a test will help.
How Much Does a Lie Detector Test Cost?
You get a fixed price, agreed with you before anything is booked. We do not publish a figure because the right one depends on what you need established and where the examination happens, and we would rather quote you honestly than advertise a number that turns out not to apply to you.
What we will tell you is exactly what is in that price and what is not.
Mileage is included. Parking is included. Subsistence is included. Some investigators quote a lower hourly rate and then add travel to and from the job, parking, and a meal claim if the work runs long. We do not. The one exception is a deployment in a restaurant, which we discuss with you beforehand.
On where we sit in the market, our position is on record and we are not going to dress it up: we are cheaper than our main competitor and more expensive than the budget operators. Our fees page sets out the reasoning in full. Private investigation is unregulated, anyone can advertise as one, and the cheapest quote in your inbox may be cheap because there is nothing behind it.
Call 0114 438 7077 and you will have a figure before you come off the phone.
What’s Included in Your Test
- A pre-test interview in which every question is agreed with you first
- Six relevant questions, rather than the three most operators use
- A polygraph examination on modern instrumentation
- A written report of the examination and its result
- A verbal walkthrough explaining the report step by step
- Your choice of the Derby office or a private address
- Mileage, parking and travel time
- Confidential handling of everything you tell us
The walkthrough is the part clients single out. A report full of charts and numerical scoring is not much use to someone who has never seen one, so we sit down and go through it until it makes sense.
Are Cheap or Free Lie Detector Tests Worth It?
A cheap polygraph is usually cheap for a reason, and a free one is not a polygraph at all.
What you are paying for is the examiner, not the machine. Question construction is the single biggest factor in whether a result means anything, and it is the part an inexperienced operator gets wrong. A vague or compound relevant question can produce a deceptive reading from someone telling the truth. This is also why we use six questions rather than three.
Free apps and novelty kits measure nothing useful. They do not record respiration, skin conductivity or cardiovascular activity. And an examination cannot be run online at any price, because the sensors have to be physically attached and the examiner has to be in the room.
If money is tight, say so on the phone. We will be honest about what we can and cannot do for your budget.
Can I Have a Lie Detector Test at Home?
Yes. If you cannot get to the Derby office, we come to you.
You need three things at the property: a quiet room, a table and chair, and no interruptions for the length of the appointment. Nobody else should be within earshot. Beyond that, a home appointment is identical to an office one, with the same equipment, the same six questions and the same written report.
Get Your Price Before You Commit to Anything
We will quote you on the phone and it will not change afterwards.
Who Carries Out Your Lie Detector Test
Your examination is carried out by a specialist polygraph examiner who conducts several examinations a week and works from an office in Derby.
Dolos Investigations is run by a former police Detective Sergeant who led covert operations for the police, and who carries out most investigative instructions personally. The business holds full membership of the Association of British Investigators, the only body in the industry endorsed by the Law Society of England and Wales. Every investigator is DBS checked and covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance, and the business is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Why does the examiner matter more than the equipment? Because a polygraph result is only as good as the questions asked, and question construction is an interviewing skill before it is a technical one. Detective interviewing and polygraph question design draw on the same discipline: working out precisely what you need to establish, then asking it in a way that admits only one honest answer.
Speak to Someone Who Does This Every Week
Lines open 8am to 9pm, seven days a week.
Seven Questions to Ask Any Polygraph Examiner Before You Book
Because nobody regulates this industry, the burden of checking falls on you. Ask these before you pay anyone, us included.
- 01How many relevant questions will the examination cover? Three is common. More, properly constructed, gives a more reliable result.
- 02Will I see the exact wording of every question before the test starts? The answer should be yes without hesitation. If it is not, walk away.
- 03What does the price include, and what is billed separately? Ask specifically about mileage, parking and travel time.
- 04What written report do I receive, and will someone explain it to me?
- 05What professional body are you a member of, and can I verify it?
- 06Are you insured, and are you registered with the ICO?
- 07What happens if the result is inconclusive? There should be a clear answer, not an awkward pause.
How to Book a Lie Detector Test Near You
Booking takes three steps, and the first one costs nothing.
1. Free consultation
Call 0114 438 7077 or send an enquiry. We will ask what you need to establish and tell you honestly whether a polygraph will answer it. Sometimes it will not, and surveillance or a background check is the better route. We will say so.
2. Agree scope, price and place
We confirm what the examination will cover, what it costs, and whether it happens at the Derby office or an address of your choosing. Timescales are agreed with you at this point.
3. Your test and your report
You attend the examination, receive a written report, and we then talk you through it step by step.
When we are available. The office takes calls Monday to Sunday, 8am to 9pm. Our investigation line runs 24 hours a day. Appointment dates are agreed with you when you instruct us, and we will tell you on the first call what we can realistically offer.
How Does a Polygraph Test Work?
A polygraph records how your body reacts while you answer a set of agreed questions, and an examiner scores those reactions to assess whether you were being deceptive.
The word “polygraph” means “many writings” in Greek, which describes exactly what the instrument does. It records several physiological channels at once, on the same timeline, so they can be read against each other.
The UK government’s own description of the instrumentation, published in its factsheet on polygraph testing of offenders, is that polygraph instruments measure changes in blood pressure, blood flow, respiration rate and sweat responses. In practice that means three sets of sensors:
Respiration
Two pneumograph tubes across the chest and abdomen record the depth and rate of your breathing.
Electrodermal activity
Sensors on two fingers record changes in the electrical conductivity of your skin, which shifts with sweat gland activity.
Cardiovascular activity
A blood pressure cuff records changes in heart rate and relative blood pressure.
None of it is invasive. Nothing is inserted, injected, or attached to your head. No camera reads your face and no sensor measures your pupils, whatever you may have read elsewhere: those are separate behavioural technologies and they are not part of a polygraph examination.
The examiner is not watching for one dramatic spike. They compare your reactions to the relevant questions against your reactions to comparison questions asked in the same session, then score the difference. We use six relevant questions rather than the three that many operators run, which gives more data to score against.
How Accurate Are Lie Detector Tests?
A properly conducted polygraph examination is around 89% accurate on a single-issue test. That figure comes from the American Polygraph Association’s meta-analysis of 38 published studies covering 3,723 examinations, which reported an aggregated decision accuracy of 89% with a confidence interval of 83% to 95% and an inconclusive rate of 11%.
| Type of examination | Decision accuracy | Confidence interval | Inconclusive rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-issue, event-specific | 89% | 83% to 95% | 11% |
| Multi-issue screening | 85% | 77% to 93% | 13% |
| All validated techniques combined | 87% | 80% to 94% | 13% |
The UK government reaches a similar conclusion. In its published guidance on polygraph testing in the Probation Service, the Home Office and Ministry of Justice state that a comprehensive review by the American Polygraph Association indicates polygraph testing can identify deception in 80 to 90% of cases.
Notice what those numbers are not. They are not 99%, and any operator quoting you a figure in the high nineties is quoting something the evidence does not support. High, useful and honest is a better place to stand than impressive and wrong.
Four things move the number:
- Question construction. The biggest single factor, and the one entirely in the examiner's hands.
- Examiner competence. Scoring is a trained skill, and the same charts read by two examiners of different experience can produce different conclusions.
- Your medical condition. Certain heart and respiratory conditions, and some medications, affect the channels being recorded. Tell us beforehand.
- Keeping the test focused. A single-issue test scores nine points higher than a multi-issue one.
One limit worth being blunt about. A polygraph tests whether someone was deceptive about a specific factual question at a specific moment. It cannot tell you what someone is thinking, whether they still love you, or what they will do next year. It answers narrow questions well and broad ones not at all.
Can a Liar Beat a Lie Detector Test?
Rarely, and not by the methods circulating online. Habitual liars are not immune. The instrument records autonomic responses that are not under conscious control, and believing your own account does not switch those responses off.
The countermeasures people find on the internet are mostly physical: controlled breathing, tensing muscles, pressing down with a toe, causing yourself pain, taking sedatives. Examiners are trained to spot all of them, and several leave an obvious signature on the charts. Someone clearly using countermeasures does not get a truthful result; they get flagged as having tried to manipulate the test, which is its own kind of answer. The UK Probation Service takes the same view: people who attempt to trick a polygraph, or who refuse to take one, can be recalled to custody.
Sometimes the honest outcome is inconclusive. The data did not support a clear call either way. That is not a soft guilty and we will not present it as one. It usually means the examination should be run again, and we will explain why.
Are Lie Detector Tests Admissible in Court in the UK?
Polygraph results are not generally admissible as evidence in criminal proceedings in England and Wales. They can be put before a civil court or an employment tribunal as supporting evidence rather than as the main evidence, and the weight given to them is a matter for the judge.
The clearest statutory position sits in sections 28 to 30 of the Offender Management Act 2007. Those sections let the Secretary of State attach a polygraph condition to the licence of certain offenders released from custody in England and Wales. Section 30 then does something most people miss: it bars anything said during a polygraph session, and any physiological reaction recorded in one, from being used in criminal proceedings against that person.
Read that carefully, because it cuts both ways. The state uses polygraph testing deliberately and at scale, and has deliberately chosen not to treat it as evidence. It is a risk management tool, not a verdict.
| Setting | Status of a polygraph result |
|---|---|
| Criminal courts (Magistrates’, Crown) | Not generally admissible. Section 30 expressly excludes polygraph material in proceedings against the person tested |
| Civil courts | May be admitted at the judge’s discretion, as supporting evidence alongside other material |
| Employment tribunals | May be submitted as corroboration where the person consented to the test |
| Internal and disciplinary investigations | No legislation prevents an employer using a voluntary test as one input among several |
| Probation supervision | Used routinely as a licence condition, and expressly not as evidence |
The scale of official use is larger than most people realise. Since 2014 the Probation Service has completed more than 8,500 polygraph tests on people released on licence from prison, and on average offenders make risk-related disclosures in two-thirds of them. Testing has covered people with sexual convictions since 2014 and people with terrorist convictions since 2021, and the Crime and Policing Act 2026 extended it again from 29 June 2026, including to certain offenders convicted of murder who are assessed as posing a risk of sexual offending on release.
Two things follow for anyone considering a private test. The technique is taken seriously enough that the government has expanded its use three times in five years. And nobody, including the government, treats a chart as proof on its own.
What Happens During Your Lie Detector Test
Your appointment takes between one and three hours and runs in four stages.
The pre-test interview
The longest part, and the part that decides whether the result is worth anything. We discuss the issue in detail and write all six questions together. You see the exact wording of every question before the examination starts. Nothing is sprung on you.
Sensor placement
Two tubes across the chest and abdomen, two small sensors on the fingers, a cuff on the arm. It takes a couple of minutes and none of it hurts.
The examination
The agreed questions are asked in a set sequence, usually run through several times. You answer yes or no. It is quiet, slow and undramatic.
The post-test discussion
We score the charts and discuss the outcome with you. Your written report follows, and we then talk you through it step by step.
How to prepare
Sleep normally, eat normally, take your usual medication. Tell us in advance about any heart or respiratory condition, any medication, and any pregnancy. Do not rehearse answers. Being nervous is expected and does not, by itself, produce a deceptive result.
Can You Make Someone Take a Lie Detector Test?
No. We need explicit consent from the person being tested, and we will not conduct an examination without it. Nobody can be forced into a polygraph and nobody should be coerced into one.
This matters more than it sounds. A test taken under pressure is worse than no test at all: it produces unreliable data, and if the matter ever reaches a tribunal or a solicitor, the circumstances in which consent was obtained will be the first thing anyone asks about.
If the person you want tested is refusing, tell us on the phone. Refusal is not proof of anything, and there may be a different route to the answer you need, such as surveillance.
Your Privacy and Confidentiality
Your results go to you and to nobody else, unless you instruct us in writing otherwise.
Dolos Investigations is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and works to UK GDPR. Confidentiality under our terms of business runs both ways and survives the end of your instruction: the obligation does not lapse when your case closes.
The enquiry itself is confidential too. Calling to ask a question does not create a record anyone else can see, and we will not contact you in any way you have not agreed to. If you need us to be careful about how and when we make contact, say so on the first call. Read our privacy policy and terms and conditions in full.
What Can I Use Polygraph Testing For?
People book a polygraph when they have a specific question of fact they cannot resolve any other way. These are the situations we see most.
Matrimonial and Cheating Partner
Your partner has a history of it, or every sign is there, and you have asked them directly and still do not believe the answer. A polygraph can settle a specific factual question where surveillance would be slow, difficult or too risky.
Disputes
Disagreements between family, friends, neighbours or colleagues where there is no evidence either way and it comes down to one person's word against another's.
Employment Matters
Theft, staff taking sick days they are not entitled to, or an employee meeting a competitor. A CV that looks too good to be true.
False Accusations
Being accused of something you did not do is a peculiar kind of powerless, because there is often nothing to disprove. A polygraph gives you something to put on the table instead of another denial.
Theft and Loss
Money or property missing from a business or a household, with a small group of people who could have taken it. Testing narrows the question without anyone having to make a public accusation first.
Family and Contact Disputes
Where an allegation is affecting arrangements for a child, a test can address one specific factual question. It is not a substitute for evidence and will not decide a case.
Are Lie Detector Tests Worth It?
A polygraph is worth it when you have one clear factual question stopping you making a decision. It is not worth it when what you actually need is a conversation, or a solicitor.
What a test can realistically do
- Resolve a specific dispute of fact
- Give you something concrete to base a decision on
- End a period of not knowing, which for a lot of people is worse than a bad answer
- Give someone accused of something a way to test their account rather than repeat it
What it cannot do
- Settle a relationship that has other problems in it
- Guarantee any legal outcome
- Tell you what someone is feeling
- Substitute for evidence in a case that needs evidence
One more thing, because people forget it until the day: the answer might not be the one you want. We say this to every client before they book. If you are not ready to hear either answer, wait. The test will still be there.
Ready to Stop Guessing?
A free, confidential conversation with someone who does this every week.
What Our Clients Say About Our Lie Detector Tests
Dolos Investigations is rated Excellent on Google and ranked among Sheffield’s top three private investigators by ThreeBest Rated.
Lie Detector Test FAQs
What is a lie detector test?
A lie detector test, or polygraph test, measures physiological responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration to determine if a person is being truthful or deceptive during questioning.
How does a polygraph test work?
During a lie detector test, sensors are attached to the individual’s body to monitor physiological responses. The examiner asks a series of questions while the polygraph records the body’s reactions. The results are then analysed to assess the likelihood of deception.
How accurate are polygraph tests?
Lie detector tests can be a useful tool in detecting deception, but they are not infallible. The accuracy of a polygraph test depends on various factors, including the examiner’s skill and the individual’s physiological responses. It’s important to consider the results as part of a broader investigative process.
Can I prepare for a polygraph test?
It is best to approach a lie detector test honestly and naturally. Stress, anxiety, or trying to manipulate responses can affect the results. If you are nervous or have health conditions that may impact physiological responses, inform the examiner beforehand.
Are lie detector test results admissible in court?
The admissibility of lie detector test results in court varies by jurisdiction. In some places, they may be used as supporting evidence but are not considered conclusive proof of truthfulness. It’s important to consult with legal professionals to understand how these results can be used in your specific case.
How long does a polygraph test take?
A typical lie detector test can last between 1 to 3 hours, including the pre-test interview, the actual testing, and the post-test analysis. The duration can vary based on the complexity of the questions and the individual’s responses.
What happens if I refuse to take a lie detector test?
Refusing to take a lie detector test may have implications depending on the context. In some situations, it may be viewed as a negative indicator, but it does not necessarily imply guilt. Discuss the potential consequences with the relevant parties or legal advisors.
How can I find a qualified lie detector examiner?
Look for a licensed and certified polygraph examiner with relevant experience and professional credentials. Check reviews, ask for referrals, and ensure they adhere to industry standards and ethical practices.
How much does a lie detector test cost?
We agree a fixed price with you before anything is booked, and it includes mileage, parking and travel time rather than adding them afterwards. We do not publish a figure because the right one depends on what you need established and where the test happens. Call 0114 438 7077 for yours.
Can a liar pass a lie detector test?
Not reliably, and not by believing their own account. A polygraph records autonomic responses that are not under conscious control. Deliberate countermeasures such as controlled breathing or muscle tensing leave a recognisable signature on the charts, and someone who uses them is flagged rather than cleared.
Are lie detector tests worth it?
They are worth it when one specific factual question is blocking a decision you cannot otherwise make. They are not worth it if you are hoping a chart will resolve a wider relationship or business problem. We will tell you honestly on the phone which of those you have.
Can medication affect lie detector test results?
Some medications affect heart rate, blood pressure, breathing or sweat gland activity, which are exactly the channels a polygraph records. Tell your examiner what you are taking before the appointment. In most cases the examination goes ahead as normal; occasionally we will advise rescheduling.
Does alcohol or drug use affect the test?
Yes. Attend sober. Alcohol and recreational drugs alter the physiological responses being recorded and can make a result unreliable or inconclusive. If you are under the influence on the day, we will not run the examination.
Does being nervous affect a lie detector test?
Almost everyone is nervous, and the examination is designed around that. Your reactions to the relevant questions are scored against your reactions to comparison questions in the same session, so general anxiety affects both and largely cancels out. Nerves alone do not produce a deceptive result.
Can I have a lie detector test at home?
Yes. If you cannot get to our examiner’s Derby office, we travel to you. You need a quiet room, a table and chair, and no interruptions for the length of the appointment. Everything else is identical to an office appointment.
Can couples take a lie detector test together?
A polygraph tests one person and one set of questions at a time, so each person would sit a separate examination. If you want both partners tested, say so on the first call and we will explain how it would be arranged and what it would cost.
How soon can I book a lie detector test near me?
Our office takes calls Monday to Sunday, 8am to 9pm, and our investigation line runs 24 hours a day. Appointment dates are agreed with you when you instruct us, and we will tell you on the first call what we can realistically offer.
Will I receive a written report?
Yes, and it is part of the price. You receive a written report of the examination and its result, and we then talk you through it step by step so you know what it says and what it does not.
Can anyone be made to take a lie detector test?
No. We need the explicit consent of the person being tested. Nobody can be forced into a polygraph and nobody should be coerced into one. A test taken under pressure produces unreliable data and creates problems later if the matter reaches a solicitor or a tribunal.
Are there free or at-home lie detector test kits?
There are apps and novelty kits sold as lie detectors, but none of them records the physiological channels a polygraph reads, so their results mean nothing. An examination also cannot be run online, because the sensors have to be physically attached and the examiner has to be in the room.
One Call. No Obligation. A Straight Answer.
Call 0114 438 7077, seven days a week, 8am to 9pm. Or email enquiries@dolosinvestigations.co.uk.
