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Tony Blair was aware of a secret interrogation policy that meant British citizens could be tortured during counter-terrorism investigations, it has been claimed.
MI5 and MI6 officers were told they did not have to intervene to stop suspects from being mistreated at the hands of American agents.
British intelligence services were given written instructions in the wake of the September 11 attacks telling them they must not “engage in any activity yourself that involves inhumane or degrading treatment of prisoners” or “be seen to condone” torture.
However the guidelines, which have only just come to light, also state: “Given that they are not within our custody or control, the law does not require you to intervene to prevent this.”
Frontline agents were advised of the revised policy in January 2002, which advised MI5 and MI6 officers only had to complain to US officials “if circumstances allow”.
Mr Blair indicated he was aware of the policy in 2004 after photographs were published showing the abuse of captives at Abu Ghraib prison.
Foreign secretary David Miliband told MPs on Tuesday that it was at this time that the policy was made more “comprehensive and formal”.
In a letter to the intelligence and security committee (ISC), on May 24 2004, Mr Blair said that rather than considering a complaint, “UK intelligence personnel interviewing or witnessing the interviews of detainees are instructed to report if they believe detainees are being treated in an inhumane or degrading way.”
Security sources have indicated that MI5 officers are now instructed never to return to question a person who says they are being tortured.
Human rights lawyer Philippe Sands QC said the policy breaches international law as it takes no account of Britain's obligation to avoid complicity in torture under UN conventions.
The guidelines have also been used in dealings with other foreign agencies accused of using torture, including Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and with agencies in Egypt, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Blair has denied condoning or authorising the use of torture during his time as prime minister.
A spokesman for the former leader said: “It is completely untrue that Mr Blair has ever authorised the use of torture.
“He is opposed to it in all circumstances. Neither has he ever been complicit in the use of torture.
“Mr Blair believes that our security services do a superb job of protecting our country in difficult circumstances and that it is not surprising following the attacks of September 11 2001 that there was a heightened sense of the dangers the country faced from terrorism. None of this amounts to condoning the use of torture.”
Reader views (11)
Are we blind to the fact that once we condone torture we accept to be tortured ourselves abroad ? Or do we relally believe that the only country in the world is the UK.
- John Smith, London , England
Isn't Tony Blair the religious man? I think he used to advise banks for huge fees too after leaving Downing Street? He also totally disregarded the EU when it came to war, and rode the back of power instead. Surely this man can't expect to be the President of Europe! Can he?
- Keith, Manchester
@ John, Twickenham
"Whatever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'?"
That went out the window when the 'uman Rights Act was signed up to which made it impossible to prosecute anyone for anything. Especially Muslim terrorists.
The more the establishment jump to the left, the more the populace will jump to the right. Something this corrupt, incompetent, loony-lefty government just do not seem to grasp.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
We all know Tony Blair, so why should any of this surprise us?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
I have no sympathy for these terror suspects British or otherwise,if torture is the only way to glean the information needed from these people then so be it,if it stops another 9/11,or 7/7.If terrorists get hold of westerners these days it seems that beheading has become popular as they have shown on a number of occasions,what about the rights of the scum who commit this sort of murder,do we just sit them down and ask nicely what happened?.No we get the information by any means at our disposal.Sure Tony Blair knew about torture, but so what if he did,maybe by getting the information out of them earlier many lives would have been saved both sides of the Atlantic.
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand
Steve, London
Whatever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty' ?
- John, Twickenham
Impossible. He claimed he was 'a straight kinda guy'. I notice that by 'a huge mistake' he accidentally seems to have shredded all his MP's expenses records and 'accidentally' charged us taxpayers £260 for doing so.
Still because he said he was a straight kind guy and was a Labour MP/PM of course we all trust him completely. After all he couldn't be a lying scumbag could he? Shurely shome mishtake.
and here's Keith and Costa Val to tell us why we should all trust Labour even more so again.........
- Ethan, UK
Tony Blair is a liar and totally untrustworthy.
- Max, Isleworth
'British' terror suspects?I think not.Are they any more special because they reside here?
I also think they deserve everything they get.
- Steve, London
No, surely not, but that would mean that he would have been in some way complicit? Good lord, who'd have thought it, a dishonest politician.
On a different note, good luck with the EU presidency Tony, if you don't win will you just invade anyway? I hear they have oil and gas.
- Bob, Cheam
Hardly a surprise from Bush's poodle?
- Marianne, SW France/London
