Classification of Torture civil or criminal liability: FOI release

Information requested

Whether torture is a civil or criminal offence.

Response

The answer to your question is that there is a criminal offence of torture at section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Depending on the circumstances, conduct amounting to torture may also be prosecuted using a range of other criminal offences including, most obviously, assault.

It should be noted that it may also be possible for a victim of torture to bring a civil action for damages against the individual(s) or organisation responsible.

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