Six British police officers have been suspended or placed on restricted duties after allegations of ill-treatment against suspects arrested in an anti-drugs operation last year, police said today.
Some newspapers said the alleged ill-treatment included "waterboarding", a simulated drowning method that has been used by CIA interrogators, but a police source indicated actions like ducking suspects' heads in water were closer to the mark.
The London Metropolitan Police force launched an investigation after a police employee raised concerns about the conduct of officers based at Enfield in the north of the capital.
Last month, the case was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
"While the investigation is ongoing, it is not appropriate to make assumptions. That said, these are serious allegations that do raise real concern," said a police spokesman.
In March, US Attorney General Eric Holder ruled out the use of waterboarding as an interrogation technique for terrorism suspects, calling it a form of torture that President Barack Obama's administration could never condone.
Mr Holder's statement underscored Mr Obama's break with anti-terrorist policies of former President George W Bush's administration that were condemned around the world by human rights groups, civil liberties advocates and US allies.
Reuters