Should banks start to standardise polygraph vetting?
WE LIVE in an unprecedented era of misinformation and disinformation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bellowed across my living room for someone to shut off the radio (yes, I still own a radio), whenever I hear one of the known purveyors of such misinformation spewing their muck on unsuspecting ears. We also seem to be living in the age of scams, fraud and general “ginalship”. Those purveyors are a little bit more difficult to spot, however, but their impact is no less aggravating, as the banking and financial sector will tell you.
Over the past year, we have seen an explosion, if not in terms of numbers, certainly in terms of spectacle, in fraudulent schemes affecting the Jamaican banking and finance sectors. Losses and potential exposure total nearly $1 billion by some estimates, as scammers and unscrupulous persons exploit vulnerabilities in offline point-of-sale transactions, bank transfer protocols, credit card transactions and customer personal information.
While it is not widespread, there is some evidence to suggest that a few key bank personnel may be involved in these activities. Knowing that one bad apple doesn’t necessarily spoil the whole bunch, an approach that presents a deterrent to those few bad apples is needed in order to avoid giving the impression that it is more common than it really is.
As I ponder some of these issues in my other life as a law enforcement official, I’m often left wondering what, if anything, can organisations or indeed the country do to reduce these vulnerabilities.
Earlier this week, I had the good fortune of attending the launch of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA)’s second staging of its Polygraph Examiners course at the National Police College in Twickenham Park. The ten-week course will train twelve new polygraph examiners from both local and regional law enforcement agencies, as part of the agency’s commitment to developing its polygraph vetting capability. MOCA currently trains polygraph examiners and conducts vettings for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), several other government ministries and agencies, as well as law enforcement entities in the Eastern Caribbean. With over 11,000 screenings under its belt, the agency has a stellar reputation as a regional centre of excellence for polygraph training.
As I listened to the keynote speaker at the event, Her Excellency, Miss Emina Tudakovic, High Commissioner of Canada, who underscored Canada’s involvement and support for the local training programme, I harked back to my own polygraph vetting experience when joining the agency three years ago.
POLYGRAPH VETTING AND INTEGRITY
Coming from the JDF, an organisation with a stellar reputation for discipline and integrity, I merely assumed that MOCA’s polygraph vetting process would be a straightforward one. I couldn’t have been more wrong as I was strapped to a polygraph machine for what seemed an eternity, navigating through a labyrinth of questions about whether I had ever taken home the office stapler, swiped an extra cookie from my grandmother’s cookie jar, or had inappropriate recollections about the previous Saturday night’s party, while sitting in church Sunday morning. The stone-faced examiner seemed determined to uncover any hidden transgressions in my rather mundane life, leaving me contemplating whether the torturous length of the exam was a subtle strategy to induce guilt or if they were simply trying to break the record for the world’s longest lie detector test. Coming out of that session, I felt as if a weight had been lifted off me, having confessed that yes, I did in fact take the last slice of ham at that 1986 Christmas dinner. I walked out thinking, how ironic if this one slice of smoked pork would keep me out of a job 35 years later.
In all seriousness though, my lengthy polygraph experience underscores the importance of having a robust screening process for persons who will hold critically sensitive positions in critically important organisations, such as law enforcement, banks and financial institutions. At MOCA, our rigorous polygraph vetting process helps to ensure the honesty and integrity of the people we hire, and helps to reinforce our core values of accountability, integrity, independence, empathy and professionalism. Similarly, when used judiciously and professionally, polygraph vetting can be a valuable tool in maintaining the integrity of the banking sector. By embracing modern technology, rigorous training and ethical standards, banks can adopt a proactive stance against fraudulent activities, ensuring a workplace culture that prioritises transparency and accountability among its employees.
The key advantage of polygraph testing lies in its ability to identify individuals who may pose a risk to the organisation’s integrity. By measuring physiological responses to carefully formulated questions, polygraph exams can reveal patterns indicative of deception, providing valuable insights into an individual’s honesty and trustworthiness. Employees responsible for managing sensitive information or conducting certain financial transactions should undergo periodic polygraph screenings to ensure their ongoing commitment to honesty and integrity.
NOT A PERFECT SCIENCE
Of course, polygraph screening isn’t perfect. Sceptics argue that stress, anxiety, or even physical conditions can lead to false positives, potentially jeopardising the reputation and employment prospects of innocent individuals. There is also varying scientific consensus on the efficacy of polygraph testing, raising questions about its validity as a reliable tool for personnel evaluation. On the other hand, when administered by trained professionals, such as the ones that MOCA trains and prepares, these exams can be a valuable tool in identifying individuals who may pose a risk to the integrity of any organisation. In the wider context of the upsurge in fraudulent schemes in our banking sector, implementing polygraph testing could serve as a valuable deterrent to potential wrongdoers and provide an additional layer of security against collusion with unscrupulous actors.
While MOCA may not provide this service to the banks, there are private entities that provide polygraph vetting locally. What is required, however, is a shift in the mindset where polygraph vetting is embraced as a screening tool for certain critical positions. This will signal to employees that maintaining the highest standards of integrity is non-negotiable.
As Jamaica grapples today with scams, fraud and corruption, embracing polygraph testing as a standard screening tool could serve as a strong deterrent to wrongdoers and reinforce a commitment to ethical conduct. It may not be a panacea, but polygraph testing, when administered with care and professionalism, can be a catalyst for cultural change, fostering an environment where honesty and accountability thrive.
The current crisis of integrity across the whole of Jamaica, not just the banking sector, demands innovative and effective solutions. While I acknowledge the criticisms and concerns surrounding polygraph testing, the potential benefits of deterring fraudulent activities and ensuring a culture of integrity in the workplace cannot be overlooked. As the country grapples with the fallout from recent fraudulent schemes, the incorporation of polygraph vetting into the hiring and onboarding processes should be seriously considered as a means to fortify ourselves against further breaches and uphold the trust of the Jamaican public.
Major Basil Jarrett is a communications strategist and CEO of Artemis Consulting, a communications consulting firm specialising in crisis communications and reputation management. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Threads @ IamBasilJarrett and linkedin.com/in/basiljarrett