By Nick Heath, 7 May 2008 15:46
NEWS
A lie detector test that has slashed benefit fraud by more than £330,000 is being rolled out in the UK.
The Voice Risk Analyser (VRA) system will be piloted by another 15 councils following its success in seven areas of the country.
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The system, developed by Capita Group and DigiLog UK, detects tell-tale stress patterns in the voice of benefit claimants over the phone and tips off officials, who decide on whether to investigate the claimant further.
In Harrow, one of the first councils to trial the technology from May last year, it has already helped the council save more than £330,000 by exposing about 43 people on the wrong benefits.
The VRA helped investigators in seven pilot councils identify a change in a claimant's circumstance that would have otherwise been missed, in 30 per cent of calls classified as 'high risk'.
It is being used by 14 councils, seven of which have released their successful trial results.
Councils will be able to apply for a share of the £1.5m that the government has made available for the latest pilots.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said the decision on whether to roll out the scheme nationwide would depend on the results of these new trials.
Critics have attacked the system, claiming it could intimidate vulnerable people into not claiming benefits they are entitled to.
In a statement, anti-fraud minister James Plaskitt said: "This positive and encouraging news from the pilots shows that this technology is helping to combat benefit fraud.
"It is also making it quicker and easier to review claims, especially for those people who are genuinely entitled to benefits."
He added: "We need to continue to do more to make sure that taxpayers' money always goes to those who need it the most."
The government says benefit fraud has dropped from £2bn in 2001 to £0.8bn in 2006/07.
The system is also being tested by Jobcentre Plus in Nottinghamshire, which will release the results of its trial in August 2008.
Comments
There are 12 comments. Join the discussion
1. John H Woods
I hope they will also use the advanced techniques available through dowsing - using hazel twigs to locate the employers of those who work whilst claiming. And I look forward to graphological analysis of claim forms. Maybe we could give claimants fresh-brewed tea when they attend the office and look at the leaves afterward?
2. GALLEY SLAVE#41
It might be better if we do not pass comment on this as Big Brother might be watching and listening!
Is that a knock on the door that I hear!!!!
3. anonymous
No! No! No!
This is yet another step towards the "trust free, surveillance society". We ALL have to learn to accept that it is impossible to avoid all risks, even if we were to live in a totally managed and monitored society. That clearly has a price (in £), but the alternative price - a society in which we are all monitored, measured and checked by technological tools, is even less desirable. The near inevitable outcome of that is micro management of ANY behaviour that is seen as "undesirable" or "unconventional", let alone downright dishonest.
It is tragic that people seem unable to see where all this is leading. We are going to wake up, in horror, in 10-15 years time when what we have created becomes manifest.
4. Karen Challinor
I believe I commented on the usage of childrens toys to create fear uncertainty and doubt in the minds of the poor sods who actually need to claim benefit, as opposed to the crystal clear conscience and voice acting skills of the thieves that breeze past these devices and claim benefit when they should not
5. Radical Meldrew
Let's save even more money.............. I suggest we install lie detectors in the department that pays out for MP's expense claims. I'll bet they wouldn't think it such a great solution if they were on the receiving end of one of their own intrusive processes!
6. John Jameson
I don't understand why this article has attracted so may facetious comments. How can you possibly be against this? It's saving money and stopping fraud so more of the money dedicated to benefits can go to those worthy of it. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Surely a talented investigator would spot voice flucuations and delve deeper, this is just a more efficient way of doing that. If you are against using technology you might be reading the wrong site! And as for privacy concerns, you've got to fill in a form anyway, how's this infringing your privacy?
7. Karen Challinor
Mr Jameson, I have no privacy concerns with this technology being used
as I stated this simply creates fear, uncertainty and doubt in the minds of the innocent, causing stress which no doubt registers on the box and makes their lives a lot more difficult, possibly even to deny them the benefit they are entitled to
whereas the real thieves won't be stressed at all and will get the benefit they aren't entitled to
seeing how much money is saved is not in this case an indication of the projects success, seeing how many legitemate applicants are refused would be an indication of failure though
8. MartinP
I would like to know how much the lifecycle contact price is for the technology and how much will be saved/recovered by its use.
With all due respect to the companies involved, they do not come cheap and will be expecting a healthy year on year ROI.
9. anonymous
If you are not lying on a call, then you should feel intimidated - if you have nothing to hide.
10. Ralph
I find I am usually in agreement with Karen Challinor's comments but I'm with John Jameson on this one.
This is a working technology, I've seen it used in insurance call centres for fraudalent claims and if it stops benefits cheats, thengreat, 'cos this government will continue to dish out my taxes wily-nilly, so the money may as well go to those who genuinely need it
11. Guy Reynolds
Think on this
Lie detector tests are not admissible as evidence in a court of law because of their unreliability, and yet the state and insurance companies can find us guilty of potenial fraud by using them, without recourse to the law.
12. lesley Payne
Having been a benefit claimant albeit unwillingly in the past and now someone bemoaning the amount of tax I pay I feel legitimately able to comment. I believe the number of fraudulant and "scrounging " claimants to be a tiny number against those to whom the system is a lifeline BUT they cause a negative press and cause the genuine claimants to feel stigmqatised by the system. Anything that reduces the liars and users has to be of benefit to the majority. As for being intimidated by technology.. they are benefit claimants and NOT idiots!