§ Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Which of the following recommendations made by the International Committee of the Red Cross in its report of February 2004 they have accepted and implemented:
- to respect at all times the human dignity, physical integrity and cultural sensitivity of the persons deprived of their liberty held under control;
- to set up a system of notifications of arrest to ensure quick and accurate transmission of information to the families of persons deprived of their liberty;
- to prevent all forms of ill treatment, moral or physical coercion of persons deprived of their liberty in relation to interrogation;
- to set up an internment regime which ensures the respect of the psychological integrity and human dignity of the persons deprived of their liberty;
- to ensure that all persons deprived of their liberty are allowed sufficient time every day outside in the sunlight, and that they are allowed to move and exercise in the outside yard;
- to define and apply regulations and sanctions compatible with international humanitarian law and to ensure that persons deprived of their liberty are fully informed about such regulations;
- to investigate thoroughly violations of international humanitarian law in order to determine responsibilities and prosecute those found responsible for violations of international humanitarian law; and
- to ensure that battle group units arresting invidividuals and also staff in charge of internment facilities receive adequate training enabling them to operate in a proper manner and fulfil their responsibilities as arresting authority without resorting to ill treatment or making excessive use of force. [HL2834]
§ Lord Bach:The International Committee of the Red Cross report of February 2004 was an interim one based on findings from visits made by the ICRC to detention facilities in Iraq between March and November the previous year. By the time the report was submitted the UK's Divisional Temporary Detention Facility had opened and the few concerns relating to UK forces the report raised had been or were being dealt with.
The UK's commitment to the protocols of the Geneva conventions covers the noble Lord's points at (a), (b), (c), (d), (f) and (g).
Regarding (e), internees at the DTDF are able to take regular exercise outside, the large majority of whom do so on a daily basis.
Regarding (h), all UK forces personnel are briefed on the law of armed conflict which includes guidance on basic prisoner handling. Each major unit also has a number of personnel trained to a greater degree in prisoner handling and UK personnel at the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility, which holds UK internees, are given further specific training.