Downing Street Says » Binyam Mohamed

The PMS reported that the Prime Minister had been asked about Binyam Mohamed in his press conference and he was clear that the UK Government did not engage in torture or ask others to do so on our behalf. The case would now be investigated further and that where allegations were made, they should be investigated properly. The Prime Minister had said that our security and intelligence services did an outstanding job; they took significant personal risk to make Britain more secure and operated across the world in circumstances they did not control.

Put that the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) wrote to the Prime Minister around a week ago and had there been any response, the PMS said that there had not been a reply to the ISC. As the Prime Minister had set out last week in his WMS, we thought it was important to set in place appropriate mechanisms to ensure that allegations of this kind were investigated and that the guidelines for the agencies were clear.

Asked what the Government thought about having a wider inquiry to look at the issue of rendition, the PMS replied that there had already been an investigation by the ISC into rendition, which concluded in 2007. Put that details of this case had emerged since 2007 and would Downing Street accept the case for a further, wider inquiry, the PMS said that he was not aware that the ISC were proposing an inquiry of that kind.

Put that the Prime Minister s words were very supportive of the security services and was he concerned about the impact that this police investigation could have, the PMS said he would not comment or speculate on a police investigation. That was a matter for the Metropolitan Police to consider further. The Prime Minister felt that it was important to reiterate that our security and intelligence services did an outstanding job. Asked if there was a precedent for this and what evidence would be available to the investigation, the PMS confirmed that all evidence would be available to the investigation. The PMS was not aware of a precedent, but that was a question best directed to the Home Office.

Asked if the Prime Minister was confident that the security services would be cleared of any wrongdoing, the PMS said that he would not speculate on the outcome of any investigation.

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» Thursday, March 26, 2009

Binyam Mohamed

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