LIE detector technology is being piloted by the Government in a fresh bid to crack down on benefit cheats, Works and Pensions Secretary John Hutton announced today.
Voice-risk analysis (VRA) software, which is already used by the insurance industry, will be used to help identify suspect cases at the start of a claim.
It analyses changes in a caller's voice giving an indication of risk levels.
Changes are m
easured against the caller's "normal" voice which is recorded at the beginning of the call, ensuring that nervousness or shyness is not a trigger.
Callers will hear a standard message before they speak alerting them that the technology is being used.
If benefit staff assess the answers as suspicious, the caller may be asked to provide further evidence to support their claim. Final decisions will still rest with staff.
The system is being piloted by Harrow Council, in north London, for housing benefit and council tax benefit claims.
Mr Hutton said: "This technology aims to tackle fraudsters while speeding up claims and improving customer service for the honest majority."
He added: "Our investigators are successfully using sophisticated 21st century techniques to stop criminals. The introduction of this cutting edge technology will be another weapon in the battle against benefit fraud."
VRA analyses changes in voice frequency and performs thousands of mathematical calculations, identifying different categories of emotional content which enable it to identify genuine callers.
According to Government figures, benefit fraud has been reduced from about £2bn in 2001 to an estimated £0.7bn in 2005/06.
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