(UK) Baha Mousa inquiry: Attorney general 'blocked' system to stop prisoner abuse

[sabra]

Source: Guardian UK

Refusal to appoint review panel and British judge to oversee Iraqi detainee treatment came from top, inquiry hears

Abuse of Iraqi prisoners by British troops would have been prevented if the former attorney general Lord Goldsmith had not blocked a British judge being appointed to oversee the handling of detainees, a public inquiry heard today.

The army's former top legal adviser in Iraq said he could not understand why there was strong opposition to the military's requests for an independent review of how UK troops treated captives.

Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Mercer said he believed the lack of a checking process led to the abuse of prisoners.

The inquiry, which is investigating the death of hotel worker Baha Mousa, heard there were six or seven deaths of detainees in UK custody by May 2003.

...

"I still remain bemused as to why there was such resistance to the establishment of a proper review of prisoners. I cannot understand the opposition to the aspiration towards the highest standards for UK prisoners including the appointment of a UK judge, and why such a decision went up to the attorney general."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/16/iraqi-prisoner-abuse