The Six London Metropolitan Police officers accused of "torturing" suspects through the use of "waterboarding" have been suspended.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it is investigating the conduct of the officers during drugs raids in the borough of Enfield on November 4 last year when the 5 people were arrested.
Neither the IPCC nor Scotland Yard would comment on the nature of the allegations but sources have said the officers are accused of pushing drug suspects' heads into buckets of water during searches of two properties.
Waterboarding is when a suspect's head is covered by a wet cloth as water is poured over, giving the sensation of drowning. It was used by the US on terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay but has since been banned by President Barack Obama.
In February, Scotland Yard said 10 police officers from Enfield's crime squad were suspended and another 2 had been placed on restricted duties after an anti-corruption probe into the alleged mishandling of property.
Eight - one of them a detective sergeant - remain suspended and two remain on restricted duties. The 6 suspended over the conduct allegations are among them.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) received information from a London Metropolitan Police Service employee which raised concerns about the conduct of a small number of officers on Enfield borough.
"The Met's DPS then initiated a thorough investigation and as part of this made a referral to the IPCC in April 2009. The IPCC is independently investigating the actions of 6 officers during the arrests of 5 people in November 2008."
He added: "Whilst the investigation is ongoing it is not appropriate to make assumptions. That said, these are serious allegations that do raise real concern.
"The Met does not tolerate conduct which falls below the standards that the public and the many outstanding Met officers and staff expect. Any allegations of such behaviour are treated very seriously, as this case illustrates, and if found true the strongest possible action will be taken."
The claims are a huge embarrassment fore the force which is currently investigating the case of former Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed who alleges he was tortured by US agents.
source: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/06/09/uk.waterboarding.probe/
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it is investigating the conduct of the officers during drugs raids in the borough of Enfield on November 4 last year when the 5 people were arrested.
Neither the IPCC nor Scotland Yard would comment on the nature of the allegations but sources have said the officers are accused of pushing drug suspects' heads into buckets of water during searches of two properties.
Waterboarding is when a suspect's head is covered by a wet cloth as water is poured over, giving the sensation of drowning. It was used by the US on terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay but has since been banned by President Barack Obama.
In February, Scotland Yard said 10 police officers from Enfield's crime squad were suspended and another 2 had been placed on restricted duties after an anti-corruption probe into the alleged mishandling of property.
Eight - one of them a detective sergeant - remain suspended and two remain on restricted duties. The 6 suspended over the conduct allegations are among them.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) received information from a London Metropolitan Police Service employee which raised concerns about the conduct of a small number of officers on Enfield borough.
"The Met's DPS then initiated a thorough investigation and as part of this made a referral to the IPCC in April 2009. The IPCC is independently investigating the actions of 6 officers during the arrests of 5 people in November 2008."
He added: "Whilst the investigation is ongoing it is not appropriate to make assumptions. That said, these are serious allegations that do raise real concern.
"The Met does not tolerate conduct which falls below the standards that the public and the many outstanding Met officers and staff expect. Any allegations of such behaviour are treated very seriously, as this case illustrates, and if found true the strongest possible action will be taken."
The claims are a huge embarrassment fore the force which is currently investigating the case of former Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed who alleges he was tortured by US agents.
source: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/06/09/uk.waterboarding.probe/
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