Applying Neuroscientific Method to the investigation of criminal behaviour

CENTRE FOR FORENSIC NEUROSCIENCE

Welcome to the Centre for Forensic Neuroscience, established in 2002,

which provides a range of forensic services for the United Kingdom and Worldwide.

CONTACT US

Phone

24 Hour Helpline: +44 (0)7790732828

Email

ashcroft@forensic-centre.com

Offices

City View, 5 Union Street, Manchester / 48 W George St Glasgow

Hours

Monday-Sunday:
24 hours

Available 7 Days A Week

A Broad Spectrum of Investigative Psychology Services for Civil & Criminal Cases

We provide psychological reports in both civil and criminal cases and give expert witness evidence in Court. Our Consultant Investigative Psychologist, Dr Keith R Ashcroft, has been instructed over the past 18 years by the Crown and Appeal Courts, Sheriff Courts and the High Court of Justiciary throughout Scotland; and by the Crown Prosecution Service, including the Complex Casework Unit, The Royal Court of Jersey, and criminal defence lawyers.

Dr Ashcroft is listed in the as Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, the representative body for psychologists in the UK. He was awarded full Chartered Scientist status by the Science Council. He is also a full member of The International Academy for Investigative Psychology.

Dr Ashcroft has experience in working with the Police and Prison service, with specialist knowledge of sexual crimes, and crimes of violence. He has been consulted on matters relating to threat assessment, violence risk assessment, violence prevention, and corporate security issues for the past two decades.

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ISSUES OF TRUST SUCH AS INFIDELITY

For resolving relationship difficulties, including financial investigations between intimate partners.

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EMPLOYEE THEFT

Polygraph testing for private sector employees who are under investigation for allegations relating to economic loss to their employers.

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SEXUAL ABUSE

For resolving relationship difficulties, including financial investigations between intimate partners.

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THERAPEUTIC POLYGRAPH

Polygraph used within a therapeutic setting to assist in disclosure, sobriety and relapses in sex addiction; as well as treatment resistance etc.. We work with the Laurel Centre, Leamington Spa which offer proven psycho-educational programmes for the treatment of sex and pornography addiction and support programmes for partners.

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CREDIBILITY ASSESSMENT

The Centre for Forensic Neuroscience, established in 2002, provides polygraph testing services (often referred to as lie detection) and credibility assessment with the UK’s largest team of dedicated expert examiners, with Dr Keith Ashcroft as the Principal Forensic Polygraph Examiner. Each are established professionals in their own discipline, and are available for instruction in your location (N.B. we do not test in domestic contexts under any circumstances) throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East and the rest of the world.

Another specialised polygraph technique allows the investigator to determine if a crime suspect recognizes crime relevant information. The Concealed Information Test (CIT), or sometimes referred to as the Guilty Knowledge Test, uses a set of multiple-choice questions which refer to crime-specific details of the investigation in hand.

Services

Practitioners

%

Satisfaction

Available 7 Days A Week

What We Do for You

Our team provide a full range of services within the discipline of investigative psychology which encompasses: Investigative psychologists perform both hands-on and abstractly with scientifically-based research and analysis. The examination of criminal styles and patterns in order to understand the offender’s thought processes and psychological characteristics. We also perform comprehensive analyses of the legal and investigative decisions and process. For example, we interview victims & offenders, especially focused on credibility assessment, and assist in investigative interviewing decision making process.

IMMIGRATION, SHAM MARRIAGES AND ASYLUM

Polygraph testing of individuals seeking asylum are used to determine the validity of the claims of the petitioner in immigration cases.

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PRE-EMPLOYMENT

We provide polygraph screening testing for Public and Private sector companies, as well as periodic honesty testing, including drug screening.

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PAIRED TESTING

Used in situations where one of two opposing witnesses is most likely being deceptive. Effectively used in mediation contexts.

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Book An Appointment Home Page

How to Schedule a Polygraph Interview & Examination:

You can schedule a polygraph interview and examination by using our contact form, or by calling us directly on 07790732828 to speak with an examiner, so we can provide an in-depth description of the process, fees, advice, and guidance for the examinee in readiness for polygraph testing.
When requested, we can have a polygraph examiner conduct the interview and polygraph examination at a office in your location to satisfy the required optimal testing environment; therefore our fees reflect this best practice level of service.
In accordance with the American Polygraph Association recommendations, and good practice, we do not conduct tests in a home environment.
Please note our fees are dependent upon the gravity of the issue to be investigated and the distance from our test centres.
A retainer fee is normally required to secure the appointment. We use WorldPay Zinc for all financial transactions and billing.

MUST HAPPEN ON voluntary basis

It is vitally important to stress that all examinations must be taken on a voluntary basis. No person should be intimidated or coerced into taking such an examination. If you have been threatened to participate in a polygraph interview and examination, then this could have a negative influence over the whole testing process. As a strict policy we do not accept instructions where we believe coercion or threats are present.

neutral testing environment

Usually we can arrange a suitable neutral testing environment in your particular location to ensure that tests can be conducted in a proper manner. For therapeutic services, our consultants use clinic settings, should this be a necessary requirement.

it takes 2 hours or more

Please also note that the whole process takes around two hours or more to complete.

PREPARE single issues question formats

You will be advised that we strongly recommend only single issues question formats as this has been proved scientifically to be the most accurate method to employ. Thus for example:

R1 Did you take the money from the First bank in Mosley Street, Manchester last Thursday?

R2 Did you take the money from the First bank located in Mosley Street, Manchester last Thursday?

R3 Did you take the money that First bank in Mosley Street, Manchester on Thursday last week?

Furthermore, the answer to each question is limited to either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Compound questions or questions that ask for opinions, feelings, emotions, intent, or, frame of mind are not appropriate and cannot be used. Hypothetical questions or questions about future behaviours must not be used.

PREPARE single issues question formats

You will be advised that we strongly recommend only single issues question formats as this has been proved scientifically to be the most accurate method to employ. Thus for example:

R1 Did you take the money from the First bank in Mosley Street, Manchester last Thursday?

R2 Did you take the money from the First bank located in Mosley Street, Manchester last Thursday?

R3 Did you take the money that First bank in Mosley Street, Manchester on Thursday last week?

Furthermore, the answer to each question is limited to either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Compound questions or questions that ask for opinions, feelings, emotions, intent, or, frame of mind are not appropriate and cannot be used. Hypothetical questions or questions about future behaviours must not be used.

HOW TO PREPARE

Any additional issue must be done with a separate polygraph test. Examinees will be sent information on how to prepare for the test and be evaluated for suitability according to various criteria; such as for example:

Be free of any serious illness.
The examinee should not have been subjected to any accusatory interviews prior to the examination.
The examinee must not be under the influence of alcohol or substances of abuse at the time of the test.
The examinee must have had a reasonable amount of sleep prior to the test.
The examinee must have prepared and be notified at least 48 hours prior to the actual test.

LIMITATIONS

It should be noted that there are certain limitations of polygraph testing:

- - The test results relate to what the examinee perceives.
  - Not everyone is suitable for testing due to individual physiological and psychological differences and states.
  - The clarity of issues being tested.
  - Number of issues being tested.

LANGUAGES

Our examiners work in conjunction with specially trained interpreters to provide polygraph tests in most languages. They are also trained in cross-cultural sensitivities in order to engage more effectively with people from different cultures.

NO RE-TESTING

Please note the our examiners do not re-test the work of other examiners as a matter of company policy and professional ethics.

Call For an Estimate of Fees

Our office will guide through the instruction process and provide full information on all of our services.

+ 44(0)7790732828

Service Areas

Office locations:

We cover the whole of the United Kingdom, and have a mobile team; our primary office locations are Glasgow and Manchester; we use premium serviced offices throughout England, Wales and Scotland. We also have a network of associates in major cities in Germany, as well as operating in the rest of the world.

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