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Probe rejects UK rendition claims Police reject UK rendition claims
(about 3 hours later)
A police inquiry says it has found no evidence UK airports have been used to move CIA detainees who faced torture. An inquiry by senior police has found "no evidence" UK airports were used by CIA flights carrying terrorist suspects facing torture in other countries.
The Association of Chief Police Officers dismissed claims by campaign group Liberty that "extraordinary rendition" flights landed in Britain. The investigation by the Association of Chief Police Officers followed claims by campaign group Liberty concerning "extraordinary rendition" flights.
Liberty's Shami Chakrabarti accused Acpo of spin, saying the claims were based on "credible investigations". Earlier a report by the Council of Europe alleged flights did pass through the UK and other European countries.
Reports had suggested that CIA flights carrying prisoners had entered Britain 210 times since 2001. Liberty accused Acpo of spin, saying its claims were "credible".
'Spin' claim Acpo's investigation was launched following a complaint by Liberty.
News of Acpo's findings came after human rights watchdog the Council of Europe produced a report saying there was evidence to prove the CIA had run secret jails in Europe. It alleged that 210 CIA flights carrying terrorist suspects for possible torture had entered Britain since 2001.
'Collusion'
Acpo's findings emerged hours after human rights watchdog the Council of Europe said there was evidence to prove the CIA had run secret jails in Europe.
When politicians spin it is disappointing. When police engage in the same activity, it is rather more dangerous Shami ChakrabartiLibertyWhen politicians spin it is disappointing. When police engage in the same activity, it is rather more dangerous Shami ChakrabartiLiberty
It said prisons were used to interrogate terrorism suspects "in Europe from 2003 to 2005, in particular in Poland and Romania".It said prisons were used to interrogate terrorism suspects "in Europe from 2003 to 2005, in particular in Poland and Romania".
The CIA later dismissed the report, with a spokesman saying the report was biased and distorted, and that the agency had operated lawfully. A year ago the report's author, Swiss MP Dick Marty, named the UK as one of 14 European countries he said had colluded with the CIA in the operation of secret flights delivering terrorist suspects for interrogation.
The CIA later dismissed Friday's report, with a spokesman saying it was biased and distorted, and that the agency had operated lawfully.
The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, Michael Todd, began an investigation into Liberty's claims in November 2005.The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, Michael Todd, began an investigation into Liberty's claims in November 2005.
On Friday Acpo said Mr Todd had "examined all of the information available relating to this issue". A statement released by Acpo said: "The issue of rendition has been aired extensively in the media and has featured prominently in official reports over a recent period of months.
"[Mr Todd] has concluded that there is indeed no evidence to substantiate Liberty's allegations." "Mr Todd has now examined all of the information available relating to thisissue and has concluded that there is indeed no evidence to substantiateLiberty's allegations.
A spokeswoman added: "There was no evidence that UK airports were used to transport people by the CIA for torture in other countries." Chief Constable Michael Todd responded to Liberty's complaint
But Ms Chakrabarti questioned how closely Mr Todd had looked into the allegations. "There was no evidence that UK airports were used to transport people by the CIA for torture in other countries."
Some suspects were flown to Cuba via Eastern Europe, it is claimed But Liberty's Shami Ms Chakrabarti questioned how closely Mr Todd had looked into the allegations.
She drew attention to the fact that Acpo's statement and the Council of Europe's announcement were "coincidentally" made on the same day.She drew attention to the fact that Acpo's statement and the Council of Europe's announcement were "coincidentally" made on the same day.
And she insisted that Liberty's complaint was "based upon credible investigations that Britain had been used as a staging post".And she insisted that Liberty's complaint was "based upon credible investigations that Britain had been used as a staging post".
"When politicians spin it is disappointing. When police engage in the same activity it is rather more dangerous," she said."When politicians spin it is disappointing. When police engage in the same activity it is rather more dangerous," she said.
Requests grantedRequests granted
It had been reported in 2005 that airports at Biggin Hill, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brize Norton, Farnborough, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, RAF Mildenhall, Northolt, and Stansted had allowed CIA or CIA-chartered jets to land. It was alleged in 2005 that airports at Biggin Hill, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brize Norton, Farnborough, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, RAF Mildenhall, Northolt, and Stansted had allowed CIA or CIA-chartered jets to land.
Liberty raised the issue in letters to the chief constables of Bedfordshire, Dorset, Essex, Hampshire, the Metropolitan Police, the Ministry of Defence Police, Suffolk, Sussex, Thames Valley and West Midlands.Liberty raised the issue in letters to the chief constables of Bedfordshire, Dorset, Essex, Hampshire, the Metropolitan Police, the Ministry of Defence Police, Suffolk, Sussex, Thames Valley and West Midlands.
The Foreign Office previously said the US had requested permission to transfer detainees through the UK on four occasions - all of them in 1998.The Foreign Office previously said the US had requested permission to transfer detainees through the UK on four occasions - all of them in 1998.
The government had granted two of the requests, and the individuals had stood trial in the US, according to the Foreign Office.The government had granted two of the requests, and the individuals had stood trial in the US, according to the Foreign Office.