Whilst not commenting on this reported incident, I will add two notes:
Torture and Rough Handling. During the 12 years of the Malayan Emergency, time and again it was shown that 'third degree methods' were counter-productive in garnering actionable intelligence. Exploiting the shock of capture and then conveying them in isolation and silence to a Police Interrogation Centre was much, much more successful. Interrogation involve offering the detainee good food, cigarettes, a bath, fresh clothing etc. In a contemporary CIA report, incredulity was expressed about the lack of torture. I interview former intel officers and former insurgents - both groups categorically agreed that rough handling and torture were counter-productive. Why have we appeared to have regressed?
RAFP investigation. Several years ago I was subject to a long and totally inept investigation after a piece of equipment in my care was stolen. The Specialist Police Wing plods focused on my behaviour rather than trying to identify the thief and recover the sensitive piece of kit. The questioning was abysmal as was the handling of evidence (the crime scene was not secured). My solicitor had to guide their questioning and procedures. There was high-level interfernce in the process and interviews were suspended and never concluded and it took a specialist Solicitor and advocate to lift the cloud over me. I was never charged but felt that like a criminal - and treated as thus. Compared with MDP investigations that I have been involved in on a professional basis, MDP were very good - RAFP investigation was very poor.