§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they have not detained General Augusto Pinochet, former dictator of Chile, now on a visit to Britain, using the powers in the Criminal Justice Act 1988, which embody in our law the obligation under Article 6 of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to take into custody and prosecute any person within our jurisdiction who is alleged to have committed torture or an act which constitutes complicity or participating in torture. [HL3399]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe offence of torture contained in Section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 provides that a United Kingdom court has jurisdiction to prosecute for an offence of torture committed by a person of any nationality committed in any part of the world. The police may arrest or detain a suspect in connection with an offence under Section 134 only if they have sufficient evidence to do so. If the noble Lord believes he has evidence of an offence under Section 134, he should place it in the hands of the police.