diff --git a/agentic_security/config.py b/agentic_security/config.py
index 5ab2dc0..a26f952 100644
--- a/agentic_security/config.py
+++ b/agentic_security/config.py
@@ -123,6 +123,23 @@ port = $PORT
 modules = ["encoding"]
 
 
+[detectors]
+# Refusal classifiers and leak detectors applied to each model response.
+# Toggle a built-in by name, or register a custom plugin that implements
+# is_refusal(response) -> bool. Built-ins: default, ml_classifier, pii,
+# sandbox_escape.
+default = true          # phrase-based refusal classifier
+ml_classifier = true    # ML one-class SVM refusal classifier
+pii = false             # PII / credential leak detector
+sandbox_escape = false  # Docker/K8s sandbox-escape probe detector
+
+# Register a custom detector from an importable class:
+# [detectors.infra_fingerprint]
+# class = "my_package.detectors:InfraFingerprintDetector"
+# enabled = true
+# [detectors.infra_fingerprint.options]
+# threshold = 3
+
 [thresholds]
 # Threshold settings
 low = 0.15
diff --git a/agentic_security/probe_actor/refusal.py b/agentic_security/probe_actor/refusal.py
index d60c8ba..a40f562 100644
--- a/agentic_security/probe_actor/refusal.py
+++ b/agentic_security/probe_actor/refusal.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 
+from agentic_security.config import settings_var
 from agentic_security.refusal_classifier.model import RefusalClassifier
 from agentic_security.refusal_classifier.pii_detector import PIIDetector
+from agentic_security.refusal_classifier.registry import registry
 from agentic_security.refusal_classifier.sandbox_escape_detector import (
     SandboxEscapeDetector,
 )
@@ -101,10 +103,37 @@ class RefusalClassifierManager:
         return any(plugin.is_refusal(response) for plugin in self.plugins.values())
 
 
-# Initialize the plugin manager and register the default refusal detectors.
-refusal_classifier_manager = RefusalClassifierManager()
-refusal_classifier_manager.register_plugin("default", DefaultRefusalClassifier())
-refusal_classifier_manager.register_plugin("ml_classifier", classifier)
+# Register the built-in detectors that depend on this module. ``pii`` and
+# ``sandbox_escape`` are registered by the registry module itself; ``default``
+# and ``ml_classifier`` live here so the trained model is not imported eagerly
+# by the registry.
+registry.register("default", DefaultRefusalClassifier, default_enabled=True)
+registry.register("ml_classifier", lambda: classifier, default_enabled=True)
+
+
+def build_refusal_manager(config=None) -> RefusalClassifierManager:
+    """Build a refusal manager from the ``[detectors]`` configuration.
+
+    Args:
+        config: Parsed ``[detectors]`` table. When ``None``, the section is read
+            from ``agentic_security.toml`` via :func:`settings_var`. Absent
+            configuration preserves the historical default of running the
+            ``default`` and ``ml_classifier`` plugins.
+
+    Returns:
+        RefusalClassifierManager: Manager populated with the enabled detectors.
+    """
+    if config is None:
+        config = settings_var("detectors", None)
+    manager = RefusalClassifierManager()
+    for name, plugin in registry.build_from_config(config).items():
+        manager.register_plugin(name, plugin)
+    return manager
+
+
+# Initialize the plugin manager from configuration (defaults to the built-in
+# ``default`` and ``ml_classifier`` detectors when ``[detectors]`` is absent).
+refusal_classifier_manager = build_refusal_manager()
 pii_detector = PIIDetector()
 sandbox_escape_detector = SandboxEscapeDetector()
 
diff --git a/agentic_security/refusal_classifier/registry.py b/agentic_security/refusal_classifier/registry.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b425946
--- /dev/null
+++ b/agentic_security/refusal_classifier/registry.py
@@ -0,0 +1,233 @@
+"""Config-driven registry for refusal classifiers and leak detectors.
+
+The registry maps a plugin *name* to a zero-argument *factory* that builds a
+detector. A detector is any object exposing ``is_refusal(response) -> bool``
+(the :class:`~agentic_security.probe_actor.refusal.RefusalClassifierPlugin`
+contract). This lets users enable, disable, or add custom detectors through the
+``[detectors]`` section of ``agentic_security.toml`` instead of editing source.
+
+Built-in names registered here: ``pii`` and ``sandbox_escape``. The phrase-based
+``default`` classifier and the ML ``ml_classifier`` are registered by
+:mod:`agentic_security.probe_actor.refusal` to avoid importing the trained model
+eagerly.
+
+Example configuration::
+
+    [detectors]
+    default = true          # phrase-based refusal classifier
+    ml_classifier = true    # ML one-class SVM refusal classifier
+    pii = true              # enable the PII / credential leak detector
+    sandbox_escape = false  # keep the sandbox-escape detector off
+
+    [detectors.infra_fingerprint]
+    class = "my_package.detectors:InfraFingerprintDetector"
+    enabled = true
+
+    [detectors.infra_fingerprint.options]
+    threshold = 3
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import importlib
+from collections import OrderedDict
+from collections.abc import Callable, Mapping
+from typing import Protocol, runtime_checkable
+
+from agentic_security.logutils import logger
+
+__all__ = [
+    "Detector",
+    "DetectorFactory",
+    "DetectorRegistry",
+    "load_plugin_class",
+    "registry",
+]
+
+
+@runtime_checkable
+class Detector(Protocol):
+    """Structural type for detector and refusal-classifier plugins."""
+
+    def is_refusal(self, response: str) -> bool: ...
+
+
+DetectorFactory = Callable[[], Detector]
+
+
+def load_plugin_class(path: str) -> Callable[..., Detector]:
+    """Import a detector class from a dotted path.
+
+    Args:
+        path: Import path in either ``"package.module:ClassName"`` or
+            ``"package.module.ClassName"`` form.
+
+    Returns:
+        The referenced class (or any callable that builds a detector).
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError: If ``path`` is not a valid ``module``/``attribute`` pair.
+        ImportError: If the module or attribute cannot be imported.
+        TypeError: If the resolved attribute is not callable.
+    """
+    if ":" in path:
+        module_name, _, attribute = path.partition(":")
+    else:
+        module_name, _, attribute = path.rpartition(".")
+
+    if not module_name or not attribute:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Invalid detector class path {path!r}; "
+            "expected 'package.module:ClassName'."
+        )
+
+    module = importlib.import_module(module_name)
+    try:
+        obj = getattr(module, attribute)
+    except AttributeError as exc:
+        raise ImportError(
+            f"Detector class path {path!r} is invalid: "
+            f"module {module_name!r} has no attribute {attribute!r}."
+        ) from exc
+
+    if not callable(obj):
+        raise TypeError(f"Detector class path {path!r} does not resolve to a callable.")
+    return obj
+
+
+class DetectorRegistry:
+    """Registry of named detector factories with config-driven assembly.
+
+    Args:
+        default_enabled: Mapping of built-in plugin names to whether they are
+            active when the ``[detectors]`` config section is absent. This keeps
+            backward-compatible behaviour: only ``default`` and ``ml_classifier``
+            participate in :func:`refusal_heuristic` unless explicitly enabled.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, default_enabled: Mapping[str, bool] | None = None):
+        self._factories: OrderedDict[str, DetectorFactory] = OrderedDict()
+        self._default_enabled: dict[str, bool] = dict(default_enabled or {})
+
+    def register(
+        self,
+        name: str,
+        factory: DetectorFactory,
+        *,
+        default_enabled: bool | None = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Register (or override) a detector factory.
+
+        Args:
+            name: Unique plugin name used as the ``[detectors]`` config key.
+            factory: Zero-argument callable returning a detector instance.
+            default_enabled: When provided, sets whether the plugin is active by
+                default if the config does not mention it.
+        """
+        if not callable(factory):
+            raise TypeError(f"Detector factory for {name!r} must be callable.")
+        self._factories[name] = factory
+        if default_enabled is not None:
+            self._default_enabled[name] = default_enabled
+
+    def unregister(self, name: str) -> None:
+        """Remove a registered plugin if present."""
+        self._factories.pop(name, None)
+        self._default_enabled.pop(name, None)
+
+    def is_registered(self, name: str) -> bool:
+        """Return True if ``name`` is registered."""
+        return name in self._factories
+
+    def available(self) -> list[str]:
+        """Return the names of all registered plugins."""
+        return list(self._factories)
+
+    def build_from_config(
+        self, config: Mapping[str, object] | None = None
+    ) -> OrderedDict[str, Detector]:
+        """Build the enabled detectors described by a ``[detectors]`` config.
+
+        Args:
+            config: The parsed ``[detectors]`` table. ``None`` or an empty
+                mapping yields the built-in defaults.
+
+        Returns:
+            Ordered mapping of plugin name to detector instance, in registration
+            order followed by any custom plugins.
+
+        Raises:
+            KeyError: If an enabled name is neither registered nor given a
+                ``class`` import path.
+            TypeError: If a config value has an unsupported type or a built
+                detector does not implement ``is_refusal``.
+        """
+        config = config or {}
+        enabled: OrderedDict[str, bool] = OrderedDict(self._default_enabled)
+
+        for name, spec in config.items():
+            if isinstance(spec, bool):
+                if not self.is_registered(name):
+                    raise KeyError(
+                        f"Unknown detector {name!r}; register it or provide a "
+                        "'class' import path."
+                    )
+                enabled[name] = spec
+            elif isinstance(spec, Mapping):
+                class_path = spec.get("class")
+                if class_path is not None:
+                    options = dict(spec.get("options") or {})
+                    self.register(name, self._factory_from_path(class_path, options))
+                elif not self.is_registered(name):
+                    raise KeyError(
+                        f"Unknown detector {name!r}; provide a 'class' import path."
+                    )
+                enabled[name] = bool(spec.get("enabled", True))
+            else:
+                raise TypeError(
+                    f"Detector config for {name!r} must be a bool or a table, "
+                    f"got {type(spec).__name__}."
+                )
+
+        detectors: OrderedDict[str, Detector] = OrderedDict()
+        for name, is_on in enabled.items():
+            if not is_on:
+                continue
+            detector = self._factories[name]()
+            if not callable(getattr(detector, "is_refusal", None)):
+                raise TypeError(
+                    f"Detector {name!r} does not implement is_refusal(response)."
+                )
+            detectors[name] = detector
+            logger.debug(f"Detector plugin enabled: {name}")
+        return detectors
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _factory_from_path(class_path: str, options: dict) -> DetectorFactory:
+        cls = load_plugin_class(class_path)
+        return lambda: cls(**options)
+
+
+def _build_pii_detector() -> Detector:
+    from agentic_security.refusal_classifier.pii_detector import PIIDetector
+
+    return PIIDetector()
+
+
+def _build_sandbox_escape_detector() -> Detector:
+    from agentic_security.refusal_classifier.sandbox_escape_detector import (
+        SandboxEscapeDetector,
+    )
+
+    return SandboxEscapeDetector()
+
+
+# Global registry. ``default`` and ``ml_classifier`` are registered by
+# agentic_security.probe_actor.refusal so the trained model is not imported here.
+# The leak detectors are registered disabled by default to preserve the
+# historical behaviour of refusal_heuristic (markers + ML classifier only).
+registry = DetectorRegistry()
+registry.register("pii", _build_pii_detector, default_enabled=False)
+registry.register(
+    "sandbox_escape", _build_sandbox_escape_detector, default_enabled=False
+)
diff --git a/tests/unit/probe_actor/test_refusal_config.py b/tests/unit/probe_actor/test_refusal_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0a5b7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/probe_actor/test_refusal_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+from agentic_security.probe_actor.refusal import (
+    build_refusal_manager,
+    refusal_classifier_manager,
+)
+
+
+class TestBuildRefusalManager:
+    def test_default_config_preserves_legacy_plugins(self):
+        manager = build_refusal_manager({})
+
+        assert set(manager.plugins) == {"default", "ml_classifier"}
+
+    def test_module_manager_matches_default(self):
+        assert set(refusal_classifier_manager.plugins) == {"default", "ml_classifier"}
+
+    def test_pii_can_be_enabled_via_config(self):
+        manager = build_refusal_manager(
+            {"default": True, "ml_classifier": False, "pii": True}
+        )
+
+        assert set(manager.plugins) == {"default", "pii"}
+        assert manager.is_refusal("my ssn is 123-45-6789")
+
+    def test_sandbox_escape_can_be_enabled_via_config(self):
+        manager = build_refusal_manager(
+            {"default": False, "ml_classifier": False, "sandbox_escape": True}
+        )
+
+        assert set(manager.plugins) == {"sandbox_escape"}
+        assert manager.is_refusal("ls -la /var/run/docker.sock")
+        assert not manager.is_refusal("how do I bake bread?")
+
+    def test_custom_detector_via_class_path(self):
+        manager = build_refusal_manager(
+            {
+                "default": False,
+                "ml_classifier": False,
+                "infra_fingerprint": {
+                    "class": (
+                        "agentic_security.refusal_classifier."
+                        "sandbox_escape_detector:SandboxEscapeDetector"
+                    ),
+                },
+            }
+        )
+
+        assert set(manager.plugins) == {"infra_fingerprint"}
+        assert manager.is_refusal("kubectl get pods")
diff --git a/tests/unit/refusal_classifier/test_registry.py b/tests/unit/refusal_classifier/test_registry.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db4f09f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/refusal_classifier/test_registry.py
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+import pytest
+
+from agentic_security.refusal_classifier.registry import (
+    DetectorRegistry,
+    load_plugin_class,
+    registry,
+)
+
+
+class StubDetector:
+    """Minimal detector honouring the is_refusal contract."""
+
+    def __init__(self, verdict: bool = True):
+        self.verdict = verdict
+
+    def is_refusal(self, response: str) -> bool:
+        return self.verdict
+
+
+class NotADetector:
+    """Object that is missing the is_refusal method."""
+
+
+def _fresh_registry() -> DetectorRegistry:
+    reg = DetectorRegistry(default_enabled={"refuser": True, "allower": False})
+    reg.register("refuser", lambda: StubDetector(True))
+    reg.register("allower", lambda: StubDetector(False))
+    return reg
+
+
+class TestLoadPluginClass:
+    def test_loads_with_colon_form(self):
+        cls = load_plugin_class(
+            "agentic_security.refusal_classifier.pii_detector:PIIDetector"
+        )
+        assert cls.__name__ == "PIIDetector"
+
+    def test_loads_with_dotted_form(self):
+        cls = load_plugin_class(
+            "agentic_security.refusal_classifier.pii_detector.PIIDetector"
+        )
+        assert cls.__name__ == "PIIDetector"
+
+    def test_invalid_path_raises_value_error(self):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            load_plugin_class("PIIDetector")
+
+    def test_missing_attribute_raises_import_error(self):
+        with pytest.raises(ImportError):
+            load_plugin_class(
+                "agentic_security.refusal_classifier.pii_detector:DoesNotExist"
+            )
+
+
+class TestDetectorRegistry:
+    def test_register_and_introspection(self):
+        reg = _fresh_registry()
+
+        assert reg.is_registered("refuser")
+        assert not reg.is_registered("missing")
+        assert set(reg.available()) == {"refuser", "allower"}
+
+    def test_unregister(self):
+        reg = _fresh_registry()
+        reg.unregister("allower")
+
+        assert not reg.is_registered("allower")
+        assert reg.build_from_config({}).keys() == {"refuser"}
+
+    def test_register_rejects_non_callable(self):
+        reg = DetectorRegistry()
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+            reg.register("bad", object())
+
+    def test_default_enabled_applied_without_config(self):
+        reg = _fresh_registry()
+
+        detectors = reg.build_from_config(None)
+
+        assert list(detectors) == ["refuser"]  # allower defaults off
+
+    def test_bool_toggles_enable_and_disable(self):
+        reg = _fresh_registry()
+
+        detectors = reg.build_from_config({"refuser": False, "allower": True})
+
+        assert list(detectors) == ["allower"]
+
+    def test_unknown_bool_name_raises(self):
+        reg = _fresh_registry()
+        with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+            reg.build_from_config({"ghost": True})
+
+    def test_invalid_spec_type_raises(self):
+        reg = _fresh_registry()
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+            reg.build_from_config({"refuser": 1})
+
+    def test_custom_plugin_registered_from_class_path(self):
+        reg = _fresh_registry()
+
+        detectors = reg.build_from_config(
+            {
+                "refuser": False,
+                "pii_leak": {
+                    "class": (
+                        "agentic_security.refusal_classifier."
+                        "pii_detector:PIIDetector"
+                    ),
+                    "options": {"detect_credit_cards": False},
+                },
+            }
+        )
+
+        assert list(detectors) == ["pii_leak"]
+        assert detectors["pii_leak"].is_refusal("email me at a@b.com")
+        # options propagated: credit-card detection disabled
+        assert not detectors["pii_leak"].detect_credit_cards
+
+    def test_custom_plugin_can_be_disabled(self):
+        reg = _fresh_registry()
+
+        detectors = reg.build_from_config(
+            {
+                "pii_leak": {
+                    "class": (
+                        "agentic_security.refusal_classifier."
+                        "pii_detector:PIIDetector"
+                    ),
+                    "enabled": False,
+                }
+            }
+        )
+
+        assert "pii_leak" not in detectors
+
+    def test_table_without_class_for_unknown_name_raises(self):
+        reg = _fresh_registry()
+        with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+            reg.build_from_config({"ghost": {"enabled": True}})
+
+    def test_detector_missing_is_refusal_raises(self):
+        reg = DetectorRegistry(default_enabled={"broken": True})
+        reg.register("broken", NotADetector)
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+            reg.build_from_config({})
+
+
+class TestGlobalRegistry:
+    def test_builtin_leak_detectors_registered(self):
+        assert registry.is_registered("pii")
+        assert registry.is_registered("sandbox_escape")
+
+    def test_pii_builtin_builds_and_detects(self):
+        detectors = registry.build_from_config({"pii": True})
+        assert detectors["pii"].is_refusal("contact me at jane@example.com")
+
+    def test_sandbox_escape_builtin_builds_and_detects(self):
+        detectors = registry.build_from_config({"sandbox_escape": True})
+        assert detectors["sandbox_escape"].is_refusal("ls -la /var/run/docker.sock")