News Flash
Suspected international terrorists detained in the United
Kingdom:
new visit by the Council of Europe's Anti-Torture Committee
Strasbourg, 24.03.2004 - A delegation of the European Committee for the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has
recently carried out a six-day visit to the United Kingdom. During the visit,
which began on 14 March, the delegation focused its attention on the treatment
of persons certified by the UK's Secretary of State to be suspected
international terrorists and detained pursuant to the provisions of the
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.
The delegation interviewed in private all the persons who were detained
exclusively under the 2001 Act. Furthermore, in Belmarsh and Woodhill Prisons,
it examined developments in the conditions of detention of these persons since
the first visit to this category of detainees (cf. document
CPT/Inf (2003) 18). The delegation also went to a high-security psychiatric
hospital.
The visit was carried out by two members of the CPT, Mario FELICE, a Maltese
lawyer (Head of delegation) and Pétur HAUKSSON, an Icelandic psychiatrist. They
were assisted by Per BORGÅ, Psychiatrist, Head of Section, Karolinska
Institutet Danderyd Hospital, Sweden (expert) and supported by Geneviève MAYER,
Deputy Executive Secretary of the CPT.
The delegation also had consultations with the national authorities, and in
particular with Phil WHEATLEY, Director General of the Prison Service.
