Met Officers Suspended Following 'Water Torture' Claims

Six Metropolitan Police officers have been suspended following allegations they used a form of torture on suspected drug-smugglers.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it was investigating the Enfield-based officers' conduct, during drugs raids in the north London borough last November.

The men are said to have pushed the suspects' heads repeatedly into buckets or bowls of water in a bid to force them to reveal the locations of drugs.

According to sources, one IPCC document is said to use the word "waterboarding" - the controversial CIA technique employed against al Qaeda suspects - in connection with the allegations.

However, neither the IPCC or Scotland Yard would comment on the nature of the claims.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said a police employee had raised concerns about the conduct of a number of officers during an internal investigation into allegations of mishandling property.

"The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) received information from a Metropolitan Police Service employee which raised concerns about the conduct of a small number of officers on Enfield borough," he said.

"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 six officers during the arrests of five people in November 2008.”

The spokesman added that it was "not appropriate to make assumptions" while the investigation was ongoing.

"That said, these are serious allegations that do raise real concern," he added.

"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 come as Scotland Yard is investigating similar allegations against the British Security Service MI5, after former Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed said he was tortured by US agents.

(JM/NS)