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DiscussionWork in pairs. What do you think the answers are to these questions?In 1996 there were 171 countries in the world:1.In h ow m any countries did people in prison o r police custody suffer tortu re or ill-treatment?

a. 2 4 6. 67 c. 124?2. In ho w many countries did people die as a result of torture or in human prison conditions?

a. 16 b. 46 c. 82?Find out the answers from your teacher and then discuss these questions:1.D o the figures surprise or shock you o r are they what y ou would expect?2.Do you think the figures would be better or w orse for this year? O r ab out the same?3. In which countries woul d you expect to find torture happening?4. What about your ow n country?ReadingRead the articles through quickly and answer the questions below:Which countries are mentioned in connection with tortu re?Do any of the articles surprise you? Which? Why ?

CASSIDY ATTACKS PINOCHETIn Chile in 1975, Dr Sheila Cassidywas beaten, stripped and givenelectric shocks all over her body,forcing her to give the name of apriest who had asked her for help.She was later released as a result ofprotests from Britain. Yesterday shespoke out following the arrest ofGeneral Pinochet, the 84-year-oldex-dictator of Chile. "I thinkimprisonment for the rest of his lifewould be appropriate. I know he isan old man and he is fragile, but sowere the pregnant women who wereraped and tortured," she said.

US POLICE UNDER FIREA recent Human Rights Watchreport, examining policing in 14 ofAmerica's biggest cities, containssome shocking statistics. Following11,000 civil rights complaintsagainst the police last year, only 29police officers were punished. Crimein New York has halved since 1993,but complaints about police abuseare up by 50%.In one case, a suspect was choked todeath when arrested by a policeofficer in 1994. The officer wascleared of manslaughter, but the caseexposed the police to widespreadcriticism.

FRANCE G UILTY OFTORTUREFrance became the first Europeancountry convicted of torture whenthe European Court of HumanRights found it guilty of torturing asuspected drug dealer duringquestioning. The man was beaten inan effort to obtain more informationabout his suppliers. The courtdescribed his treatment at the handsof five police officers as being 'ofa particularly cruel and seriousnature7 making it 'torture' under theEuropean Convention on HumanRights.

Read the articles again and answer these questions:1. Wh y was Sheila Cassidy tortured?2. Wh at was 'shocking' abo ut the Hu ma n Rights Watch report?3 . Wh at information did the French police wan t?

DiscussionDiscuss these questions in small groups:

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1.Do you think t hat the conduct of the US police might sometimes actually be 'torture'?2. H o w would yo u define 'torture'?3 . Do you feel tha t any of the cases of tortu re mentioned a bove might in an y way be justified?4. Do you think the police in your country torture suspects and kno wn criminals?

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Language 1 Language 2Put the words in italics in the right order to makeprepositional phrases.1.She was later released . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

protests from Britain. (of as result a)2. I think imprisonment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

his life would be appropriate. (of rest th e for)3. A suspect was choked to death . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . a police officer.

(with interview in an)4. The man was beaten. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

obtain more information about his suppliers.( to an effort in)

Complete the article below using the phrasesfrom the previous exercise.

LIFE FOR THE TO RTURE T W OThe trial of Justin Mathers and Gary Barstow,both accused of murder and torture, finishedtoday at Brigham Crown Court. (1 ) . . . . . . .the six-week trial, the jury had heard evidence ofsome of the most horrible crimes ever describedin a courtroom. They had also seen photographsof injuries suffered (2 ) . . . . . . . . hese two men.Both men were found guilty. The judge passedsentence immediately, saying: " (3) . . . . . . . hehorror of your crimes, I have no hesitation in5. His treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ive . . . . . . . .police officers was 'of a particularly cruel and sending you to prison (4) your lives.. . . . . . . . .

serious nature'. (of the hands a t) (5 )your actions, five people were

permanently injured and seven were killed. Two6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . irm evidence, men and three women lost their partners; a dozenhe was released from prison. (of the in absence) children lost their parents.7. The government had no choice but to arrest After your arrest, (6) . . . . . . . . he police, youhim . . . . . . . . . . what he was writing said that you had enjoyed committing these awfulthem in the foreign press, but they lived to crimes. Therefore, (7) . . . . . . . . give you a .regret their actions. (of in view) punishment that matches the awfulness of what. . . . . . . .. All political prisoners will have been released you have done, and, (8) any remorse. . . . . . . . . . . . . he year. (end the by o f ) from you, I sentence you to life imprisonment."

"No-one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."Article 5. United Nations. 1984.

DiscussionWork in small groups. Look at the situations below. Discuss how much force, if any, it is acceptable forthe police or army to use in each situation in order to get what they want.1.The police arrest someone for a bank robbery.

They are absolutely certain they have theperson responsible, and he already has acriminal record, but at the moment they haveno evidence. They need a confession. Theyonly have four hours to get one before he mustbe released.

2. A child has been kidnapped. The kidnappersare threatening to kill the child if theirdemands are not met. The police catch one ofthe kidnappers who knows where the child isbeing held. She refuses to tell the police.

3. The police catch a member of a terroristorganisation. He knows the names of othermembers of the organisation. He also hasinformation about where they have stores ofarms and explosives. This information will savelives.

4. Your country is at war. You capture a high-ranking enemy soldier who has considerableknowledge of the enemy plans. Thisinformation would certainly save the lives ofmany of your soldiers and possibly shorten thewar.

Would your response to situation 2 be the same if the child was yours or a friend's?

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