In February 2008, the UK Government acknowledged that UK airspace and territory have been used for rendition flights – the small island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. This was despite categorical statements from former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2005, 2006 and 2007 that there was no evidence that this had happened. In March 2008, officials stated that they were unsure of how many other times rendition flights had passed through UK airports.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture believes it has evidence that extraordinary rendition has taken place on a significant scale and has condemned the US administration. Both the European Parliament and Council of Europe also believe extraordinary rendition flights have gone through European territory and hundreds of CIA flights have been logged flying through the UK.

Liberty first expressed concerns in November 2005 that the UK Government may be complicit in alleged torture practices if secret “torture flights” had landed at UK airports. In a dossier of correspondence with the Foreign Office, two successive Foreign Secretaries stressed that there was no evidence of rendition flights passing through the UK territory.

Liberty also asked the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in 2005 to conduct a police inquiry into allegations of UK complicity with extraordinary rendition flights. In June 2007 ACPO responded, refusing to open an inquiry and claiming that there was no evidence of rendition. It remains unclear how extensive their enquiry was.

Despite admitting that flights have taken place, the UK Government persists in resisting both an independent investigation into the allegations and new laws which would prevent ‘torture flights’ using UK airports and airspace. Liberty continues to call for an independent investigation. The extent of UK complicity in rendition and torture cannot be determined without a full and proactive inquiry.