Why people become torturers

1
Why people become torturers

• Dr Tom Williamson
• University of Portsmouth
• England

2
Social Psychology of torture (1)

• Zimbardo Prison experiment
• Milgrams Obedience to authority experiment
• Police Torturers in Greece and Brazil (Huggins,
  Haritos-Fatouros and Zimbardo)
• Fundamental attribution error we underestimate
  the power of external situational forces and
  overestimate the strength of individual character
  factors

3
Social Psychology of torture (2)

• Selection and training
• Ordinary men doing evil deeds
• Creating new moralities, such as defending
  national security against a hated enemy
• Instilling blind obedience
• Dehumanising the victims and
• Neutralizing personal and social responsibility

4
International Human Rights Laws

• Universal Declaration on Human Rights 10th
  December 1948
• First 50 years spent gaining international
  acceptance for principle of human rights
• Next 50 years will be spent gaining acceptance of
  the practice of human rights
• Citizens rights are the basis for reciprocity
  between the police and citizens.

5
Rights- Key Characteristics

• Internationally guaranteed
• Legally protected
• Focus on dignity of the human being
• Protect the individual and groups
• Obligations on states and organisations such as
  police
• Cannot be waived or taken away
• Universal

6
Human Rights and Reciprocity

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 30
  rights. 2 conventions 1976.
• Economic and social rights work, social
  security, health, education.
• Civil rights life, prohibition against
  arbitrary detention and torture
• Code of conduct for Law Enforcement Officials
  1979
• Right to Life and Use of Force by Law Enforcement
  Officials 1990
• Rights upheld by international jurisprudence

7
Interviewing Islamic terrorist suspects

• Harsh techniques counter-productive
• How can you establish things you have in common
  if you know nothing about Islam (see Gelles
  chapter)
• Families are alarmed at radicalisation of sons
  and daughters
• Rapport and cultural sensitivity works best.
• The long game.

8
Swedish research

• Dr Holmbergs research
• Experience of suspects in serious crimes
• Experience of witnesses
• Effect of humane interviewing styles

9
Draft Code of Conduct for Custodial Questioning

• We recognise there is still a strong temptation
  for investigators to use torture
• There is currently no international human rights
  instrument that specifically address how people
  will be treated when detained in custody for
  questioning
• The draft code has been prepared to assist in
  moving this process forward, and will be
  addressed in the penultimate session on Friday
  afternoon.
• Please complete the questionnaire in your packs
  and hand in before you leave the conference or
  forward comments by email.