Lie detector to check claim calls

Similar voice-risk software has been used by a London council

Lie detectors are to be used to trap benefit cheats in County Durham.

Four local authorities in the county are to pilot the use of specialist software which it is claimed can detect potentially fraudulent claims by phone.

Voice Risk Analysis (VRA) technology is already used by some other local authorities and insurance firms.

Specially-trained operators will use the technology, which can detect minute changes in a caller's voice, and can indicate when someone may be lying.

Durham City, Sedgefield, Chester-le-Street and Derwentside Councils are taking part in a pilot which will focus on telephone calls to benefit administration departments.

Staff will use VRA technology together with "probing question techniques" to risk-score telephone calls.

Dennis Southwell, of Durham City Council, said: "The primary objective of this initiative is to identify and enhance the experience of genuine customers, while offering a level of resistance to potential fraudsters."

Critics of the technique claim analysing the voice alone is not an effective way to detect whether they are lying.