IT’S TORTURE
Cops insist they’ve no idea how much they spent on investigation
Police have said they have no idea how much a five-year probe into the use of Scottish S airports by CIA torture reef light se flights has cost the taxpayer. r.
An investigation into so- called rendition stopovers was ordered in 2013 by then lord advocate Frank Mulholland.
Police Scotland and the Crown Office said the investigation is “ongoing”.
But police said they did “not hold information” on the cost – stating “officers involved in this inquiry are not required to collate timesheets detailing how their time is spent between this inquiry and other policing business”.
They also refused to say how many people had been interviewed or how many witness statements had been taken since the investigation began.
Police Scotland said: “Releasing information at this time would undermine the impartial integrity of the report and potentially the force’s ongoing efforts against criminality.
“Whilst accountability for public funds and better informing the public debate on a matter of significant concern may favour disclosure, ensuring the integrity of police investigations is paramount.
“Furthermore, there is no requirement to satisfy public concern over the progress of the investigation to date.
“The service is already held to account in such matters by the Crown Office and all evidence gathered by the police will be reported to this body in due course.”
Pol ice Scotland conf irmed the investigation is being led by a senior officer “supported by officers within the Specialist Crime Division as required”.
We revealed in 2014 that police were investigating at least six stopovers – four at Prestwick airport and two at Glasgow.
Research by academics suggested 13 possible rendition f lights also landed at Inverness, Wick and Aberdeen between 2004 and 2006.
When Mulholland, who is now a judge, informed MSPs in June 2013 that the f lights would be probed by police, he said: “It is very important there should be no dilly-dallying on this matter.
“The use of torture can’t be condoned. It is against international law and contrary to the common law of Scotland.”
The US Senate issued a partially classified 500-page report on the CIA det ent ion and int er rogat ion programme in December 2014. Police Scotland’s counter-terrorism unit asked the following year to see the full 6000-page classified report which would reveal dates, locations and other details removed from the 500-page version. Detectives have yet to receive it. It would include information which h nails three flights that touched down in Scotland as being involved in transporting suspects for torture. One is Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, who was rendered from Afghanistan to Poland for torture in 2003.
Gulfstream jet N379P – dubbed the Guantanamo Express – stopped at Glasgow airport in March 2003 on the way back from dropping him at a CIA torture prison in Poland known as Detention Site Blue.
Scottish Lib Dems leader Wil lie Rennie said: “The inquiry should be thorough but five years is a long time. We need an update on its progress, the costs to date and a date for when this matter will be reported to the Crown Office.”
Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: “A thorough investigation is necessary but it cannot be bankrolled indefinitely by taxpayers. The public deserve answers on what airports were used for rendition flights and where they were.”
The Crown Of f ice said the case remained a “live police investigation”. They added: “Regular updates on progress are provided by the senior investigating officer.”
Police said: “The investigation is progressing.”
We need an update on its progress and the cost