Steve Beasant

Commenting on the conclusion by the Metropolitan Police and CPS that no MI5 or MI6 officers will be charged over torture collusion claims, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP who was vice chair of the European Parliament’s inquiry into European involvement in ‘extraordinary rendition’ said:

“This by no means ends the matter. That British officials helped to question prisoners before or after their torture was not in doubt and is confirmed by this statement. The further criminal investigation into renditions to Libya are welcome.”

“The barrier to prosecution in the Binyam Mohamed and Bagram cases is the absence of evidence of a quality to secure convictions. It is clear from the statement that the reason for that is the non-cooperation of the British intelligence and security services and the Americans.”

“This puts even more onus on Sir Peter Gibson’s UK torture inquiry to establish and publish the full extent of UK involvement in extraordinary rendition and torture. The coalition government, which to its credit set up this inquiry after Labour’s cover-up, must now ensure its credibility as a comprehensive, open and transparent investigation.”

“In the European Parliament I am working on a follow-up to our 2007 report on European countries’ complicity in torture, secret prisons and extraordinary rendition. I am confident that the entire truth will eventually emerge, despite all the denials and obfuscations along the way.”

Notes:

The joint statement can be seen on the CPS webpage, view: HERE.