UK Guidance on Torture Challenged by Watchdog

[Hissyspit]

Source: BBC News

26 September 2010 Last updated at 20:18 ET

UK guidance on torture challenged by watchdog

New guidance for UK intelligence staff on how to deal with suspects facing torture overseas may breach human rights law, a watchdog has warned.

As a result officers may wrongly believe they were "protected" from court action, the Equality and Human Rights Commission says. In a letter to the prime minister, it has threatened to take legal action.

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The probe was partly prompted by allegations that London resident Binyam Mohamed was tortured with the knowledge of UK officials while held by the CIA in Pakistan. A number of other former detainees have since brought legal action against the government.

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The guidance outlines the steps intelligence officers should take before they interview detainees held by authorities overseas, seek information from them or request an overseas detention. It says officers must not interview or seek intelligence from detainees when they "know or believe" they will be tortured. But the EHRC says the guidance does not stop officers from proceeding when there is a "serious risk" of torture. In such cases, officers must obtain assurances from the detaining authorities or consult ministers.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11414770

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[OnyxCollie]

2. K&R. nt

[TheMadMonk]

3. In other words. So long as someone denies it to their face...

...they have plausible deniability and can't be held responsible for any subsequent enhanced interrogation.